West Aurora junior Keira Hayton has pretty much grown up with the school’s softball program.
Of course, she didn’t have much choice.
Not with an older sister, by 11 years, playing for the Blackhawks. Kaylee was an outfielder/first baseman who went on to pitch for two years at North Central College and two at Aurora University.
“I went to everything, every single game,” said Keira, talking about ages 4 through 7 while her big sister was starring for West Aurora. “I never missed (but) I don’t remember much.
“I’ve heard I played with my toys and would sometimes sleep. I know I loved her teammates and they all seemed to like me. I guess I was the only little sister and my mom (Stacy) said I behaved.”
Keira also took to the sport.
In her third varsity season, Keira Hayton is having a resurgence for the Blackhawks, hitting .404 after being limited to just 18 games by a concussion as a sophomore.
Hayton started as usual Thursday afternoon at second base but was pulled after just one inning of a lopsided 17-0 Southwest Prairie Conference victory over Joliet Central.
Senior pitcher Brooke Roberts threw a one-hitter as West Aurora (10-8, 5-3) rolled past the Steelmen (2-14, 0-8). Freshman shortstop Bella Marzullo filled in for junior starter Sara Tarr, the Miami of Ohio commit, and led the offense with a three-run double for the Blackhawks.
The age difference, meanwhile, didn’t allow for much of a sibling rivalry with her older sister for Keira, who started playing travel with the Wasco Diamonds at age 10.
West Aurora’s Keira Hayton talks about being hit by a golf club and missing time with a concussion during an interview after a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Aurora on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon News)
“We’re polar opposite,” Keira said. “(Kaylee) was a righty hitter, pitcher, first baseman. And I’m a fast, lefty slapper who plays middle infield and outfield. So, there was really no comparison.”
She said she was nervous making the varsity as a freshman along Tarr, her classmate and former travel teammate, but felt better when coach Randy Hayslett told her in summer camp before school started she would be his second baseman.
“I was like, ‘OK, I can do that,’” she said.
She plays center field in the summer.
“Left field is weird with a different view and it’s less ground to cover than center,” she said. “I feel like I should be covering more.”
Keira credits her dad, Eric, with setting her on a path to left-handed hitting.
“When I was real little, I went to the right side of the plate,” she said. “He picked me up and put me on the left side, so I was a lefty.”
West Aurora’s Keira Hayton connects in batting practice before a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Aurora on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon News)
Since she is fast, with 2.67-second speed from home to first, it was a very good move, even if she throws and golfs right-handed.
“I can’t play golf lefty at all,” she said. “It’s bad — really embarrassing.”
Golf also led to her troubles as a sophomore.
As a freshman, Hayton hit .391, joining Tarr and sophomore pitcher Katelyn Serafin on West Aurora’s wild playoff run that reached the supersectional. She also went on a midseason trip with friends to hit golf balls at a local driving range.
“One of our friends swung the golf club when it wasn’t his turn,” Hayton said. “He wasn’t on the mat and hit me in the head. I was almost out for two months. I had driven myself there, drove to get ice cream after and drove myself home.”
Sensitive to light, she got shut down after she couldn’t see the softball before the next game.
“I just laid in my bed almost all the time,” Hayton said. “It was a crazy season with me out and (Serafin) out with surgery.”
West Aurora’s Keira Hayton (11) slides into second base against Oswego East’s Gracie Vlach, left, during a Southwest Prairie Conference game on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
Hayton hit .250 but has come back strong, continuing to improve as a slap hitter under the guidance of travel coach Tim Mahaffy and his daughter and assistant, Megan.
Last week, Hayton even hit the first home run of her high school career in a 10-0 win over Plainfield East, a drive over the fence in center on one of those rare occasions she swung away.
“It’s difficult,” she said of slapping. “I’ve definitely gotten better at dividing each skill from each other. Considering it’s only my third high school season doing it, I feel like I’ve really improved.”
Hayslett believes her layoff last spring has contributed to her being one of the more underrated players in the area.
“She has solidified the top of our order, batting second behind Tarr,” he said. “Keira can soft slap, hard slap as well a bunt, drag bunt, swing away. She can draw the outfield in and hard slap away.
“Defensively, she has a strong and accurate arm. She flies under the radar.”
