The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 5-foot-4 senior left-handed pitcher and outfielder led the Cougars to a 34-0 record and the Class 7A state championship this past season. Hays compiled a record of 20-0 with a 0.86 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 113.2 innings pitched. She also batted .524 with 29 RBI and was named Class 7A Miss Softball.
Hays has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball on scholarship at the University of Southern Mississippi this fall.
Hays has volunteered locally at a homeless shelter and on behalf of a Christmas outreach initiative for children in need. She has also served as a coach at Northwest Rankin’s summer hitting and pitching camps.