Cheyenne Hayes’ softball career almost ended before it began.
The Grant Park senior didn’t start playing till she was 11, later than most of her peers.
“That same year, my first year, I broke my hip,” Hayes said after the Dragons’ 12-1 home win against Illinois Lutheran on April 14.
“I was told I was never gonna play softball again, never even run again.”
That grim prognosis didn’t reckon with Hayes’ relentless work ethic and determination.
“I just took nine months of physical therapy,” she said. “… I would run miles every day trying to teach myself how to run (again). I just never gave up, because (playing) Division I was always the dream.”
It’s a dream she’ll realize. Hayes is committed to Wagner in Staten Island, N.Y. How that came to pass is another interesting story.
Hayes’ pitching coach is former Oklahoma State star Miranda Elish, who is also the head coach at Andrean in Merrillville, Ind. Andrean’s catcher already was committed to Wagner and was telling Hayes about the school.
“And then I actually emailed Wagner and believe it or not, four minutes later, (the coach) texts me, ‘Hey, can you take a phone call around noon?'” Hayes said.
She could, they chatted and, after Hayes sent the coach some videos of herself pitching and hitting, she had a scholarship offer.
With her college future decided, Hayes is focused on finishing out her high-school career strong.
The Dragons were 10-0 through last week and one of two state-ranked teams in the River Valley Conference along with their Route 1 neighbor to the north, defending Class 2A champ Beecher. The teams will play a doubleheader on April 28, but have different postseason paths because Grant Park is in Class 1A.
“I feel like we’ll probably breeze through regionals this year and go through to sectionals again,” Hayes said.
The ultimate goal is to reach state for the first time in program history.
“It’s a dream,” Hayes said. “Everybody wants to get to state at some point in their high-school career.”
She’s doing her part. Hayes had an 0.47 ERA through last week, allowing three runs (all earned) and 11 hits through 45 innings with 92 strikeouts and eight walks. She also was hitting .621 with 17 RBIs.
In the Illinois Lutheran win, Hayes was 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs while pitching a five-inning two-hitter with 11 strikeouts. Adding two RBIs each were Abigail Roberts, Lola Malkowski and Elise Wallace.
But there’s no doubt Hayes is the engine that makes the Dragons go.
“The bat’s always been there and the pitching has been great for us,” Grant Park coach Bob Crivokapich said. “…She’s a good role model.”