How often do you find beauty, brains and incredible athletic ability all packaged in one of the most team oriented and congenial people you could ever meet?

The answer is hardly ever. 

Local sports fans know where there is such a person though. She resides in Quitman, LA and just a few years back was one of the best kept secrets in the state prep athletic scene.

Not anymore.

Now Cali Deal is not only well known and highly decorated statewide but on a national platform as well. Pardon the pun but when it comes to overall athletic ability and especially “in the circle” on the softball field, she is without question the “Real Deal”. 

Another way to describe the daughter of Syble and Brian Deal, who is a senior at Quitman High School, is a “generational talent”, which is defined by Websters Dictionary  as – someone who is so far above their competition that their level of dominance is only seen once in a generation.

That would be an accurate description. Her being selected as a three-time, first team Class B All-Stater, Class B MVP, 3-Time District MVP and Division IV state champion for what she has accomplished in the LHSAA verifies that. You can also add winning multiple regional and national championships with her Texas Bombers Gold Summer Travel Ball team.

Recently, Deal was voted as the 6th ranked Pitcher in the Class of 2025 according to national media outlet Extra Inning Softball. Added to the outstanding accolades is her being named to the National Elite Scholars List for maintaining a 4.0 or above grade point average. 

Deal has already committed to play softball for Louisiana State University who will certainly enjoy the benefits of having such a rare person as part of their team. Fortunately for us in Jackson Parish we get to have her around for one more year.