The Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year led the Panthers to the state semifinals, batting .659 with 56 hits, 53 RBIs and 59 runs scored. Her hits included 21 homers, eight triples and 15 doubles.

In 2020, Hayward was the first player to sign with Athletes Unlimited (AU), a new network of U.S. women’s professional sports leagues in softball, volleyball, basketball and formerly lacrosse.

Coleman, the 2020 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year, won four national championships at Oklahoma and is now playing professionally for the Oklahoma City Spark, an independent team.

For comparison, Purdue University held the Big Ten Tournament in 2024 at Bittinger Stadium, a facility with a press box that ...