A trio of the most prolific prep softball players ever to compete in the South Bend area will all be donning new collegiate uniforms come next season.
The tandem of sisters Riley and Berkley Zache, along with Ava Zachary, have all selected new teams for the 2027 campaign.
Riley and Berkely have left national power Oklahoma to play for the University of Michigan. Zachary has transferred from Notre Dame to Arkansas.
The Zache sisters, who led South Bend Saint Joseph to a Class 3A state championship in 2022, will each have three years of eligibility left in Ann Arbor.
Riley, an infielder/catcher, redshirted this past season at OU after suffering a concussion last fall in a car accident. Berkley, a hard-throwing righthanded pitcher, appeared in 14 games. She was 1-0 with 14 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.28 in 15.1 innings of work, all in relief. Berkley did not play her senior season at St. Joe due to a back injury.
The No. 2 Sooners finished 52-10 this past season. They lost to Mississippi State in the NCAA Super Regional.
Both Riley and Berkley politely declined to discuss their time at Oklahoma with the South Bend Tribune, which won four straight College World Series titles from 2021-2024 under coach Patty Gasso.
The Zache’s, who live in Niles, are stoked about a fresh start some 150 miles from home.
“I love the coaching staff, and I love the girls there,” said Riley about her new home at UM in a phone interview June 22. “Things happen and I’m not thinking about the past. I’m keeping an eye on the present.
“I just feel very joyful to represent Michigan and to to wear that UM jersey with pride. I’m ready to get to work.”
Riley Zache appeared in nine games as a freshman in 2025. She was 2-for-4 batting with an RBI and three runs scored. She admits that there have been trying times the past two years as she dealt with several health issues.
“It was really hard sitting out, but I knew I was not ready to come back,” Riley remarked. “It was an opportunity for self-growth for me and to grow outside the game. I have a different look on the sport now. I have a better appreciation for the next three years.
“I’m just ready for a fresh start with a coaching staff that allows me to showcase my skills. I want to be an infielder again and they agree with me at Michigan. I just want to use my athleticism to help the team.”
Berkley, who recorded 20 strikeouts and no walks in the 2022 state title game 1-0 win over Tri-West in nine innings, says she is in a good place.
“I’m good health-wise and was 100% when I left for college,” stated Berkley. “No issues for me now. A new start is good and I’m just ready to go and continue my legacy near home. … They (Michigan) want me to be the pitcher I can be.”
Riley was recruited originally by Michigan before making a verbal commitment to Missouri before flipping to OU. Berkely has a history too with the Wolverines as she attended camps there as a youth, and her pitching coach previously coached at UM.
“I just want to give it my all and be the best I can be,” Berkley said. “I like to prove people wrong and I’m not to be denied the opportunities I think that I deserve. I’ve thought about playing pro ball after college and that would be the ideal situation for me.”
Riley also had to deal with the fact that, while at OU, she discovered she had a hearing problem and needed hearing aids.
“It took me awhile, but I’ve made my peace with it,” explained Riley of wearing hearing aids. “At first, I was like why me? I had to relearn how to do a lot of everyday tasks once I got them. I had to figure it out and find my peace.
“The fall of my sophomore year at OU, my mindset flipped. I saw it as an opportunity to embrace it and show little girls that you can be an athlete and wear hearing aids. My dad told me to look at it as my superpower.”
Berkley admitted that it was tough to see her sister go through struggles.
“It was hard to see her after the car accident,” said Berkley of her big sister. “I was happy that she redshirted and took time to heal and to grow back into a better version of herself.
“I’m just happy that we are staying together. That was our goal. We’re best together.”
Michigan finished 36-22 overall and 11-13 in the Big 10 during the 2026 season. They lost 8-1 to Oklahoma in the NCAA Regional. Coach Bonnie Tholl has guided the program the past four years after being an assistant in Ann Arbor for the previous 29 seasons.
Zachary taking talent to Arkansas
Ava Zachary leaves a large void for the Fighting Irish after a fab freshman season in South Bend.
The infielder made 43 starts and led Notre Dame in batting average (.406), doubles (13), RBI (31), on base percentage (.474) and slugging percentage (.609). She also slugged five home runs to go with 34 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
Zachary, the consummate team player, politely declined to be interviewed about her decision to transfer to Arkansas.
Zachary earned Freshman All-ACC honors, 2nd team Freshman All-American accolades and 2nd team All-ACC plaudits. She had 17 multi-hit games and a 13-game hitting streak.
Zachary helped the Irish finish 25-28 overall and 11-13 in the ACC. Notre Dame, which has never played in a College World Series, lost to Georgia Tech 13-3 in the first round of the ACC Tournament this past season.
Zachary played for her mother Beth at Penn High School in Mishawaka. She helped her team win a Class 4A state title in 2023 and was Miss Softball in Indiana in 2025.
Arkansas went 47-13 overall and 15-9 in the SEC in 20206. The Razorbacks made their first-ever trip to the College World Series and posted the second most wins in program history.
Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel has been in Fayetteville the past 11 seasons. She was a catcher at California, where she won a national title.
The Razorbacks had eight seniors on its 2026 roster and also had eight players enter the transfer portal.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Zache sisters, Zachary find new college softball homes
Reporting by Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
