“Thank you to Coach Garris and his coaching staff for believing in me!”
Hanford’s Ayden Stone has decided to take her talents to Southern University in Louisiana, where she will focus on her education while playing softball. The junior thanked the coaches who have helped her get to this point and expressed gratitude for her parents who always believed in her dreams.
“Thank you coach Mike Wallace and Coach Duke for pushing me to be better and work hard for everything,” she said in a statement. “I’m very thankful for my parents who have supported and believed in me through thick and thin.”
The future Jaguar also showed love to her teammates.
“I’m very thankful for my teammates who stick by me, pick me up whenever I’m down, who help me improve as a player and as a teammate,” she said. “I’m so excited for the years to come and I’m happy to finally call myself a Jaguar.”
Stone, who was a varsity starter on the Hanford West softball team during her freshman and sophomore years, transferred to Hanford High for her junior year due to transportation issues. But the pandemic has forced Stone to wait for her chance to pay at her new school.
“I would love to try out and play varsity at Hanford High if we get to play this year,” Stone said.
Whenever sports return, the junior will be ready to prove she belongs on the varsity team. That’s because she has continued to work hard during the break, preparing herself for the moment. The break from athletics has also brought a silver lining, giving Stone a chance to focus more on school and to pursue her other passion — drawing.
“I really want to make sure I keep my grades up because school always comes before softball,” the Hanford student said. “I also want to make sure I spend a lot of time with my family and friends since I’m so close to finishing high school. Another thing I like to do outside of softball is draw, so I’d like to improve in my art too.”
The 4.0 GPA student-athlete has been aiming to avoid unnecessary distractions during the pandemic.
“During COVID, I could have watched TV all day or played video games, but I made the decision to continue working hard on my school work and dedicate time to my art,” the junior said.
While she looks forward to the journey ahead, Stone always cherishes the memories she made since she started playing the game at the age of four.
“I was really little when I started, so it was fun to play with other kids, eat pizza after the games and win a trophy or medal,” the standout student-athlete said. “Softball is special for me because it gives me an escape from everything else. I don’t have to think about school or drama or anything, and I can just play the game stress free.”
While Stone’s dad showed her the ropes in the early days, her mom provided vital feedback and motivation. The junior adds that coach Mike Wallace has been instrumental in her development for the past six years, helping her evolve into one of the standouts of the Firecrackers Central California team.
As she takes the next step, the star student plans to apply the lessons she learned from her biggest supporters.
“I’ve always been taught by my mom that early is on time and on time is late, and I use this saying for the time I show up to practices and games as well,” the first base player said.
The road ahead will also provide another opportunity for Stone to show off her mental strength and work ethic, two elements which have helped the young athlete throughout her journey.
“I always strive to be better for myself and my teammates,” she said. “It’s not just about how you prepare on the field, but also how you prepare off the field when no one is watching.”
As she stands on the verge of accomplishing her lifelong dream of playing in Division 1, Stone said she will have to “get stronger and faster and to become more of a leader on my team.”
Amazing article. Thank you