Recruiting: Two-For-One Special as Oklahoma Gets Commits from Extra Elite 100 Sisters Berkeley and Riley Zache

Big news in the softball recruiting world as the Oklahoma Sooners continue to roll, but this time making it a sister act.

After last weekend’s official campus visit to Norman, Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso and her staff received the pickup of another 2025 elite prospect, Berkley Zache, ranked No. 3 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100 recently released as well as her older sister, Riley, a standout catcher ranked in the Top 50 of last year’s 2024 Extra Elite 100 (but will likely move up in the upcoming release of the senior class).

The Zache sisters were accompanied on their trip by their father Bobby and mother Leslie and the athlete’s dad came back impressed with the entire experience.

“I think Leslie and I both feel the same,” the Zache patriarch began. The coaching staff, payers, trainers, nutritionists, alumni, administrators and their spouses are all incredible.”

“What we loved is how there is level of spirituality that I am, unfortunately, not able to capture in words.  There is no selfishness anywhere to be found.  There is a humility, at every level, a sense of pride without hubris.  There is a structure that is beautifully chaotic, but structured and controlled like you would see in a family setting.”

“It feels as though the girls are their children and they treat one another like siblings.”

At the football game against Iowa State, the Top 20-ranked Sooners outpaced the Cyclones 50-20 and the Zache family got to enjoy the game from the field level as they were accompanied by Coach Gasso. They also got to meet famous Sooner football alum, former All-American linebacker Brian “The Boz” Bosworth who is now an accomplished actor in Hollywood.

With the commitment of the two siblings—Riley, who is 13 months older than Berkley and a previous Missouri commit—gives Oklahoma’s not just another top 2024 but a star-studded 2025 class that includes several Top 10-rated recruits including No. 1 Lexi McDaniel, a middle infielder; No. 2 Kai Minor, an outfielder; a pair of franchise pitchers tied at No. 3 in Berkley and Sophia Bordi, No. 4 Kendall Wells, a catcher and No. 6 Allyssa Parker, a pitcher/shortstop.

So what’s helped OU monopolize the top of the 2025 recruiting class?

Winning three straight national championships will do it, but so too will the down-home feeling many recruits have raved about including spending time with the coaching staff. You could almost say—or some will say—it is a spiritual experience.

“We have been asked,” Bobby Zache continues, ‘Are you proud?’  No, proud is the wrong word; n fact, it felt more like a feeling of spiritual calmness.

“Just knowing that there are people out there that are like you and what you aspire to be,   People who can help your children to become better leaders, better Christians and better versions of themselves—but that are always looking themselves for guidance.”

“Finally, there is this overwhelming feeling to be the best that you can be, for yourself and for others.  In short, a feeling of the need to hold oneself accountable and holding others accountable and knowing that the future is written, we all just need to prepare to embrace it.”

***** Be sure to check our recent article titled The Ten Rules of Recruiting From the Accomplished Zache Family

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Tuesday evening, Extra Inning Softball’s Brentt Eads caught up with Berkley to get her perspective on not only getting to play for the National Champs, but to do it with her sister… here’s what she had to say:

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