Payton Kennedy turned 18 on Friday, an occasion each teenager cherishes, however for her it additionally occurred to be a sport day, which means any celebration needed to be placed on maintain till victory was gained.
“I walked into the team room and there was Starbucks in my cubby, gifts, and they sang me happy birthday,” the Santa Margarita senior mentioned. “I love my teammates so much.”
The perfect current of all was one she gave herself by pitching 4 innings and including two hits and two RBIs in host Santa Margarita’s 5-2 overcome Mater Dei in its Trinity League softball opener.
Rated among the best pitchers and hitters in Orange County, Kennedy has the numbers to again the hype. By way of Friday she was 4-0 within the circle with 30 innings pitched to go together with 16 hits, 19 RBIs, six dwelling runs, a .457 batting common, a 1.000 slugging share and a 1.512 on-base-plus-slugging share.
She additionally performs first and third base, having been an All-Southern Part Division 1 choice as an infielder final 12 months when she hit seven homers. Now a senior, her focus is on a piece championship.
Kennedy is nicknamed “PayDay” for her penchant for producing within the clutch.
Santa Margarita’s Payton Kennedy connects with a pitch in a defeat of Mater Dei.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
“That started way back in All-Stars when I was 6 years old,” she remembered. “My coach was [former NFL player] Mike Brown. I had a good day in rec ball and he said that and it just kind of stuck.”
Although she lives in San Clemente, Kennedy selected to go to Santa Margarita largely to strengthen a bond she shaped with ladies who had been teammates on youth groups.
“I’ve been playing with these nine seniors since we were all 10. … I’m so happy with my decision,” she mentioned. “My four years here have been so special. We win together and we want to go as far as we can. This is our year to do it.”
Kennedy began her final season robust in February, blasting 5 homers whereas being named Most worthy participant on the Waimea Invitational in Hawaii, the place Santa Margarita earned a share of first place. She cited that journey as her greatest thrill within the sport.
Subsequent 12 months Kennedy will take her expertise to the Southeastern Convention, having signed with Mississippi to meet a childhood dream of taking part in NCAA softball.
“I wanted to play in a Division 1 Power Five [conference] and was considering some Pac-12 schools until they switched to the Big Ten,” Kennedy mentioned. “California weather’s the best but I was open to other parts of the country too. I made official visits to Indiana, Iowa and Ole Miss in November. I liked the coaching staff, got to meet all the players and I’m excited to be a Rebel.”
Longtime Santa Margarita coach John Fitzpatrick has seen many distinctive gamers over time, however mentioned by way of character, “PayDay” is nearly as good because it will get.
“She’s not only a great player and a great teammate, but a great person,” mentioned Fitzpatrick, who piloted the Eagles to the Southern Part Division 1 crown in 2010 and earned his three hundredth win final spring. “She’s going to be really successful at Ole Miss. What I appreciate about Payton most is her approach to life. I’ve known her since she was in eighth grade and I’ve never heard her say a bad word about anyone.”
Payton Kennedy, heart, and her Santa Margarita Excessive teammates huddle to have fun their victory over Mater Dei on Friday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
Blessed with pure capacity, Kennedy dedicated herself extra absolutely to her sport in her freshman 12 months after she realized relying solely on her expertise wouldn’t get her the place she wished to be.
“Everyone would tell me I was talented but I didn’t put in the work and I had set very high goals,” she mentioned. “I made the decision myself to not be distracted by other things and put softball first. I have on the mirror in my bathroom all the things I need to do — pitch, hit and go to the gym — before I do anything else.”
Additionally a near-4.0 scholar, Kennedy has been placing in onerous work within the classroom and on the sector and it’s paying off.
“I’d say pitching is harder mentally for me … knowing what pitch to throw in any given situation,” she mentioned. “I’ve always hit for power, but I want to be more consistent and improve my average. It’s a daily grind but I love it.”
Kennedy performs summer season journey ball for Arizona Storm Nationwide Mathis — a USA Elite Choose squad based mostly in Phoenix that performs tournaments everywhere in the nation, together with in Southern California. She FaceTimes together with her coach frequently.
Considering majoring in sports activities medication or train science, Kennedy is on Santa Margarita’s Varsity Management Counsel and has umpired and labored with younger gamers on their mechanics. She even was invited to Angel Stadium to share her ideas in regards to the school recruiting course of and provide recommendation on the psychological side of the sport. Being a task mannequin is vital to her, as she recalled the joys of assembly the athlete she most admired.
“Jennie Finch was my idol and I met her at a tournament in Colorado when I was 12 or 13,” Kennedy mentioned. “She was so nice, she signed a ball for me and from then on I knew I wanted to be like her.”
Santa Margarita hits the street Tuesday to face Orange Lutheran, ranked fifth within the newest Southern Part Division 1 energy rankings and paced by one of many Southland’s elite outfielders, Oklahoma-bound senior Kai Minor.
