Cali Deal is one of the top 2025 pitchers in the nation, a 6-foot lefty pitcher who has won impressively at the high school level in Louisiana and the club level for the Texas Bombers.

Line Drive Softball recently caught up with the LSU-bound standout who admits the SEC program has been her dream school for her entire life.

“There never has been any other school I wanted to play for,” Cali told the Jackson Parish newspaper. “I love the place and the people. I guess you could say I grew up bleeding purple and gold.”

Here’s more about the incoming prep senior who already has a great perspective on softball and live in general…

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Name: Cali Deal

Hometown/ST: Quitman, La.
Grad Year: 2025
Position(s): Pitcher
Club Team: Texas Bombers Gold – 18U
High School (City/ST): Quitman High (Quitman, La.)
GPA: 4.0
College: LSU
Preferred College Major: Kinesiology

In your eyes, what are some of the top honors and accomplishments you’ve achieved individually and with your teams?
Individually, I have been awarded AFCS all tournament in 14U and 16U. I have also gotten 1^st Team All-State in 8th, 9th, and 10th grades. This past year I was awarded Class MVP and All-Louisiana. Team-wise, I have been a part of a National Championship team in 14U, a winner of Patriot Games in Colorado in 16U, and my Quitman (La.) High School team won State this year.

What’s been your most memorable softball experience?
My most memorable softball experience was being able to help bring home my school our first ever state championship in softball.

What would you say are your strengths on the field?
I would say that I do well at spinning all of my pitches and keeping hitters off balance with off speed and change up. I would also say that always being able to keep my composure on the mound is a strength.

Have you set personal goals for yourself for this year?
I just want to improve my pitching in any way I can and help my high school team win another state championship and help my travel team win a national championship.

What would you say is your philosophy in life?
My philosophy in life is to put my trust in God and know that His plan for my life is so much better than my own.

Who inspires you (athletically & non-athletically):
Athletically I am inspired by Cat Osterman. Non-athletically I am inspired by my Mom.

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be on-field? Off the field?
On the field: confident
Off the field: silly

What’s been your favorite place you’ve placed softball?
My favorite place I’ve played softball was Cal State Fullerton in the AFCS Championship series in California.

What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome in life?
The biggest obstacle that I’ve had to overcome is probably struggling with the fact that I am so much more than just an athlete. There was a time where my happiness was dependent on how well I performed in a sport, and I think it’s important to know that true happiness cannot come from the game of softball and I am so much more than just a softball player.

What drives you to play the game of softball?
I love it!

Finally, what’s one thing or accomplishment about you that is unusual or unique which few know (until know)?
One thing about me that is unique is that I can juggle.

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OFF THE FIELD:

What’s your favorite softball item, like a preferred bat, glove, etc.?
My favorite softball item is my cleats that have a sparkly pitching toe.

Favorite item(s) in your closet:
I can’t choose. I have too many favorite items in my closet.

Favorite school subject:
Math.

Best way to unwind is…
The best way to unwind is to take a long shower and sit in bed and watch TikTok.

If you have 30 minutes to shop and $100 to spend, where do you go?
If I only had 100 dollars, then I would order a bunch of things from Shein because I could get a lot of stuff.

What’s playing in your headphones right now?
Pink Skies by Zach Bryan.

Celebrity you’d like most to hang out with…
Blake Lively.

What’s been your favorite vacation or place you’ve visited?
My favorite place I’ve visited was California.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one thing you’d want to have with you (sorry: can’t be a phone as they’re no cell towers nearby!)
I would want to have my Aquaphor with me because I hate when my lips are dry.

If you could have dinner with anyone… living or dead… who would it be?
If I could have dinner with anyone it would be Joe Burrow.

Favorite college uniform (and why):
All of LSU’s because I can’t wait to wear them and they all look so good, so I can’t decide which is my favorite!

What worries you most about what classmates your age will face in the future?
What worries me most is that the world will force them to be someone that they’re not.

If you won a million dollars and had to spend it all in 24 hours, how would you spend it?
I would probably buy a bunch of plane tickets where I could travel the world.

Calories aside, what food could you eat and never get sick of?
Mexican food.

Best talent off the field?
Probably basketball.

What have you learned most about yourself over the last year or two?
I am able to stay calm no matter the situation.

When you leave the game of softball, how do you want to be remembered and what will you do when you’re finished playing to help grow the game?
I want to be remembered as someone that is always having fun playing softball and also someone who is a great human being outside of the sport. As far as growing the game, I just hope I can be a person and a player that the younger generation can look up to and be inspired by.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball