BY TRISTAN SASSE
PHOTO COURTESY OF FHSU ATHLETICS
Sophomore starting pitcher on the Fort Hays State University softball team, Hailey Chapman, led the Tigers on the mound last season as a freshman. With such a major role as an underclassman, she gained the collegiate experience she was looking for. However, Chapman has been guiding softball teams to success for many years.
“My parents really wanted me to be competitive from a young age and encouraged me to branch out by picking up softball,” said Chapman. “Between the ages of 11 and 15, my dad was able to teach me the basics, and I went from riding the bench to being the starting pitcher all four years of high school.”
In high school, Chapman’s playing time grew each season for the Salina South Cougars, and she earned Kansas Class 5A All-State Second Team honors in 2016 as a senior. Additionally, she was a two-time all-league selection as a pitcher and led the Cougars to a memorable conference championship during her final year of high school.
“My favorite memory would be my senior year, we had a strong season only losing 3 games,” said Chapman. “I got to experience it with the players who had been by my side since I had begun playing.”
Chapman’s impressive high school tenure caught the attention of FHSU and allowed her to make an instant impact after signing with the Tigers. As a freshman at Fort Hays, Chapman started 29 games on the mound and made a total of 33 appearances.
The standout freshman then went on to lead FHSU by posting the lowest ERA and having the most wins, appearances, complete games, innings pitched, and strikeouts. To add to a stellar résumé, Chapman finished fourth in the MIAA in innings pitched and sixth in strikeouts.
Chapman’s freshman season gave her the opportunity she wanted.
“It gave me a good idea of what to expect going into games, it also gave me a competitive edge,” said Chapman. “The experience created a solid foundation for me to build on.”
As a leader of the team, being a pitcher allows Chapman to set the tone for those around her.
“I’m very high energy and positive on the field, I like to keep things light in the dugout and sharp on the field,” said Chapman. “If I show confidence and dominance on the mound, my team will back me up with stellar defensive plays.”
The Tigers have struggled thus far in the 2018 season, but Chapman has still put up solid numbers. She has compiled 20 starts and 10 complete games, as well as striking out 94 batters in just over 121 innings of action.
Recently, Chapman struck out 20 batters over a two-game stretch and was selected the MIAA Softball Pitcher of the Week in mid-February. She also struck out a career-high 12 batters against Eastern New Mexico during that span.
With many games remaining in her sophomore campaign, Chapman is ready for the road ahead.
“We’re not where we want to be right now statistically, but we’re working hard every day to be better players than we were the day before,” said Chapman. “Once we find the consistency we’re striving for, we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”