An NC self-made star, plus a softball legacy, make Women’s College World Series
After Duke made its first Women’s College World Series appearance a year ago, N.C. softball fans are without a team representing the state this season.
But a couple of local players, with far different backgrounds in the sport, are making their first appearances on one of the sport’s largest stages.
Oklahoma redshirt senior pitcher Isabella Smith graduated from Raleigh’s St. David’s School, a high school that didn’t have a softball team. Still, she spent most of her collegiate career at Campbell, where she became one of the most prolific arms in program history.
On the other side is Florida freshman Layla Lamar, whose mother, Duke softball coach Marissa Young, was an all-American pitcher at Michigan before building the Blue Devils into an ACC power.
OU has won four consecutive national titles and six in the last eight tournaments. It seeks to extend the dynasty in the final stretch of the postseason, something even coach Patty Gasso wasn’t sure her young squad would be in position to do.
The Gators, meanwhile, hope to win their first championship since 2015.
Smith and Lamar play limited roles, but they’ve been key in getting their respective teams to Oklahoma City, where the WCWS is regularly held.
Smith spent three seasons at Campbell and wasn’t sure if she would transfer. The Oklahoma coaching staff, however, contacted her with an opportunity to be part of the Sooners’ bullpen. Between long conversations and prayer, Smith decided to make the change.
More than 1,200 miles separate Campbell’s Amanda Littlejohn Stadium and Love’s Field in Norman.
“I am a huge family person and family is everything to me, especially being 20 hours from home, I definitely wanted to be in a place where it still felt like family,” Smith told reporters this season. “That was really big for me. It just felt like this is where God wanted me to be and where God wanted me to spend my last year. It was pretty clear.”
Oklahoma is Smith’s third program during her college career. After building her career on the club softball circuit with northern Virginia-based VA Glory, she started college at James Madison but did not play before returning to play in her home state with Campbell.
She finished her career with the Camels as the program’s leader in career strikeouts (638), career wins (70), single-season wins (29), single-season appearances (49) and single-season strikeouts (241). Additionally, she earned Big South Pitcher of the Year honors in 2023 and in 2024 led the Camels past then-No. 3 Duke.
Smith, who often enters as a reliever, said in February that she shouldered most of the pitching responsibilities at Campbell but was ready whenever the team needed her to throw.
Her services will likely be necessary in Oklahoma’s title chase.
“With how amazing our staff is here, no one here needs to throw every inning or a lot of innings or carry a majority of innings,” Smith said. “With this being Sam’s senior year and this being my fifth year, we’re getting up there in age. I think definitely having an entire staff that is capable and trustworthy is really going to help us, especially going farther in the postseason. It helps the longevity of our bodies being rested and our bodies not being completely worn out trying to get through conference (play).”
Smith missed fall ball with the Sooners due to eligibility issues but has become a key part of the OU pitching staff. She has appeared in 22 games, throwing 44 strikeouts and walking 20 batters, while giving up 26 earned runs. The Raleigh native holds a 3.25 ERA this season and a 1.96 career ERA.
From NC to OKC
Lamar is one of the newer faces in Division I softball, but she is no stranger to the UF program or college ranks.
The freshman attended high school at Cary’s Panther Creek and witnessed her mother build the Duke program. Duke hired Young in 2016 to start the program, which played its first season in 2018. Before that, Young spent two seasons as an assistant at North Carolina.
Last season, Lamar attended the WCWS in support of Duke, which was making its first appearance in program history. Now, it’s her turn to try and chase a title.
“It feels like yesterday Layla was in middle school begging to stay up past her bedtime to watch Florida play in OKC,” Young told the News & Observer. “To see the hard work and sacrifices she’s made over the years to be at the WCWS living out her dream with the Gators is so special.”
Before recruiting rules changed to restrict when scholarships could be offered, Lamar committed to Florida as a sixth grader in 2018. Young encouraged both daughters — Panther Creek senior Jolyna Lamar is committed to play at UCLA, another WCWS team — to seek opportunities at different programs.
“I do feel like there’s a standard in my family athletically and academically,” Layla Lamar said during an interview. “But I also feel like I can make my own way, with my own success and that can speak for itself.”
Lamar has four hits and four RBIs, two of each during Florida’s win over Binghamton in February, this season. She’s also added three runs, including one in the team’s win over Auburn at the end of March.
Lamar earned a number of high school and club awards, including the Southwest Wake County Conference Player of the Year, North Carolina District 3 Player of the Year and holding the Panther Creek home run record.
Her family was unable to travel this year and will be watching from home. Her father, James, continues to recover from complications following a heart attack he had two years ago.
The Women’s College World Series begins Thursday at noon with four games. It features a double-elimination bracket and teams will play until next week. The championship will be a best-of-three series starting on June 4.
North Carolina players in the WCWS
Tennessee: Karlyn Pickens (Weaverville), Emma Clarke (Cleveland), Zoie Shuler (Robbinsville)
Florida: Layla Lamar (Cary)
Ole Miss: Jaden Pone (Hope Mills)
Oklahoma: Kierston Deal (Winston-Salem), Isabella Smith (Raleigh)
