If you’re following the 2018 Hot 100, then today’s spotlight player will sound familiar because you read about her in the first 50 elite freshmen!

One thing that makes her unusual is she lives in the Midwest but plays for a club team in the South… we learn why below.

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Name: HAILEY HILLIARD
High School: Marion
City: Marion
State: 
Ill.
Grad Year: 2018
Club: Birmingham Thunderbolts
Position(s): P/1B/3B
Height: 5-7

High School Stats: Currently has a 0.02 ERA with a batting average of .620 and a slugging percentage of 1.080. In her first varsity start at pitcher beat East Belleville (Belleville, Ill.), the No. 2 rated big school in the state, with nine strikeouts and two hits allowed while going 2-for-3 with two doubles.
Club Stats: In 2014, went 23-3 pitching with ERA under 1.00. Offensively, hit a home run every 6.4 at-bats including three home runs over 250 foot fence. At PGF Nationals had one walk-off home run and two total.

College: uncommitted
Recruiting Process: Hailey has visited Georgia and Central Florida and camped at Mississippi State and Georgia as well as some regional camps.

Softball Background: at age 12 played for Tennessee Fury 00 and last year joined Germantown Red Devils. In junior high went 33-1 with 0.65 ERA and won a Class L state title in 2012.

Distance Not A Factor: “From Marion, Illinois it’s five hours to Chattanooga and four a half hours to Huntsville, Alabama,” says Hailey’s father, Steve. “We travel that far for the stiffer competition.”

Says Hailey, “It’s a commitment I made to play with a great organization to play a great game!”

Scouting Report: Hailey is a power hitting corner infielder who is also a standout pitcher with speeds in the low 60’s. Her riseball (59 mph) is dominating and in her first two varsity games this year as a freshman she recorded 22 K’s on her riseball. She also has a curve at 60 mph and a strong complementary change.

Coach’s Comments: “In the circle Hailey is more of a power pitcher with great velocity and control.  She enjoys being in the spotlight of pitching and excels at the highest level of competition.  As a hitter, Hailey falls under the power hitter label and has the ability to hit the ball out of the park on any pitch.  She applies pressure to opposing teams from the circle and at the plate.”
— Shawn Maze, Head Coach, Birmingham Thunderbolts 00