How Haylen Ayers had to change role for USJ softball's path to state tournament
Haylen Ayers was one of the loudest players running toward the USJ softball dugout Thursday.
Ayers was celebrating with her teammates — the Bruins (20-9) just clinched a spot in the TSSAA Division II-A tournament after defeating Friendship Christian, 7-0, in Game 3 of the state quarterfinals at USJ. This is the Bruins’ first trip to the state tournament since 2016, and ninth overall.
“The emotion is so big or everybody,” Ayers said. “The girls out here have so much passion for the game and it’s so good to see people smile. … To be rewarded with this, it’s just amazing.”
Ayers nearly missed the best-of-three series after suffering a left shoulder injury at a Nike Youth Basketball League tournament earlier this month in Virginia.
While in the dugout during the district and region tournaments, Ayers needed to become more of a cheerleader. She was more than happy to oblige.
“I love cheering them on in the dugout,” Ayers said. “But to be on the field with them, it just makes me happy. It makes everybody happy.”
Haylen’s dad and coach, Joel Ayers, recognized how important it was for the team.
“She was leading cheers, dancing and all that,” Joel Ayers said. “Our young kids sometimes don’t do enough of that. We teach our kids that everybody has a role and everybody’s role is important. … She kind of switched her role.”
But when Ayers is on the field, she’s one of the top players on the team. She’s consistently reaching base and stretching what looks like singles into doubles. She had three hits in Thursday’s deciding game against the Commanders (21-10).
“(Ayers) is a beast,” said senior first baseman Taylar Shands, who hit a home run in Thursday’s win to spark the offense. “Seeing her transition from basketball then coming here, she’s just an athlete. I've seen her do pretty much anything and I’m just amazed by her every time. She can slap a ball and run to first in four steps then hit a home run 5,000 feet. She’s just excellent.”
Ayers’ ability to balance basketball with with softball has been equally impressive. Ayers has traveled the county for both sports, but especially basketball. Ayers was selected to compete in the USA Basketball Women's U17 National Team trials in Colorado Springs on Tuesday.
A big part of the reason Ayers was selected is her ability on the floor, she averaged 20 points and seven rebounds per game for the Bruins this season and dropped a 30-point, 17-rebound game to help the Bruins win the TSSAA state championship in triple overtime.
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Ayers has been enjoying the ride, even with the bumps along the way. In Murfreesboro, she’s hoping it’ll pay off in a state title — the softball team’s first since 2012 and the second for the school in three months.
“I want us to grow in the moment and not let it get too big for us,” Ayers said. “Obviously, it’s the bright lights. Everybody wants to be (at the state tournament), but hopefully we don’t let the moment get too big for us. Hopefully we can shine in these lights instead of the lights shining on us.”
Austin Chastain is a high school sports writer covering West Tennessee. Reach him by email at achastain@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ.
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: TSSAA softball: Haylen Ayers had to change role for USJ's success
