Miami’s Hayden Pilkinton
By Elizabeth Contreras
Miami High School senior Hayden Pilkinton has been playing softball since she could talk, picking up a ball and glove at just 3 years old. She has grown into a versatile player, covering both middle infield and center field for the Wardogs.
“I love softball,” she says. “I’ve been playing my whole life, and I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am today.”
Pilkinton explains that she loves representing Miami, where the team’s spirit drives her passion for the game.
“We are a very hardworking team, and we strive to win,” she notes. “We fight hard.”
Behind that drive is the steady support of her family, and she says that without them, none of this would be possible.
“They do everything for me and travel across the country just so I can play the sport I love,” she shares.
Before stepping onto the field for a big game, Pilkinton focuses on keeping her mindset simple.
“I just tell myself, ‘I got this.’ I try not to think too much—just trust my ability and know that I can do it.”
Her confidence has carried her through challenges as well. During a rough stretch in high-level travel ball, she struggled at the plate but stayed patient.
“I trusted the process and all the hard work I’d put in,” she recalls. “I stayed the course to overcome adversity.”
Her advice to younger players is to always believe in yourself, even when you aren’t sure that you can.
“Always tell yourself you CAN, and you WILL,” she encourages. “Always strive to do more.”
True to her own words, Pilkinton will continue to push herself and chase her dreams as she begins the next phase of life after high school.
“I’ll be attending Brigham Young University to further my softball and academic career,” she says.
As she continues her final season in a Wardogs uniform, Hayden Pilkinton offers a heartfelt shout out, giving credit to those who have walked beside her every step of her journey. “This is to every coach along the way, and to my family who always goes above and beyond.”
