Get on board with Dugout Chatter’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
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Here’s our TFP for Monday, June 19, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: PEYTON HARDENBURGER
Uncommitted 2025 RHP Peyton Hardenburger recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Select Fastpitch 16U-Salazar, Wamego High, PGF Nationals and Triple Crown Colorado Sparkler, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2024-Kaplan, no-hitters, future college, criminal psychology, math, Michael Jordan, Rihanna, “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “Grown Ups 2” and whistling bird noises.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Peyton Hardenburger
Hometown: Wamego, KS
High School: Wamego High
Club Team: Select Fastpitch 16U-Salazar
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: RHP
Nickname: Princess P. It began during a rainy game when I asked the ump for a new ball since it was slippery. My teammate (2024 3B/1B) Kendall Yarnell then called me a princess for switching the ball and I guess the name just began to stick. I guess it doesn’t help that I love to wear pink and everything I own is bedazzled.
Twitter/Instagram: @Peyton80/@peyton._hardenburger
Honors: Two-time 1st Team All-State; two-time 1st Team All-League; 4A KS Pitcher of the Year (2022); 4A KS 3rd Place (2022); 4A KS state champion (2023); school record for single-game strikeouts (21); and school record for season strikeouts (182).
Travel Ball Fall Stats: 8-1, 2.10 ERA, 45.2 IP, 14 ER and 70 percent-strike rate.
High School Stats: 11-0, 76 IP, 182 Ks, 0.18 ERA, 2 ER, 5 no-hitters, including 2 in state semifinals and championship game, 10 shutouts and .075 opposing batting average.
Travel Ball Summer Stats (so far): 16 IP, 1 ER, 0.34 ERA, 27 Ks and 73 perecnt-strike rate.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I’ve been with Select Fastpitch for four years. I tried out the summer after 6th grade and never turned my back. I joined Select when they were a relatively small organization and have had the blessing to watch as it has grown to a nationally-known name. When I tried out, my family and I took a shot in the dark in hopes of chasing my dream of going to college as a softball player. Looking back at 6th grade Peyton, I am very grateful for my Coach Jason Salazar and Eric Jones for taking a chance on me considering my skill level back then. I will always be fortunate for them for seeing something in me I couldn’t back then.
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? My high school team recently took home its second state title in three years. Obviously, I didn’t take part in the first title, but getting to watch them take it home made me aspire for getting it myself. Placing 3rd my freshmen year put a fire in me I haven’t felt before. I worked every day since that loss mentally and physically to get to finally hold that plaque. This year, our team’s hard work finally paid off and we finished the season 22-1 and state champs. I will always have a special place in my heart for high school ball because of how I can play in front of my community and especially getting to play with my hometown friends.
What tournament/showcase/event are you looking forward to this summer and why? I always get excited for PGF Nationals in Huntington Beach, CA, since it’s new scenery, but I hold a special place in my heart for Aurora, CO, playing in the (Triple Crown) Sparkler. I’ve always had a fun time exploring the mountains and even getting to whitewater raft with my teammates. I also look forward to getting to play in the All-Star game where my friends and family can watch me on ESPN.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? (Birmingham)Thunderbolts-Kaplan for sure. We’ve played them three times so far and each time has been a battle. They always keep me on my toes and challenge me to think outside the box each pitch.
How do you deal with no-hitters/perfect games? Do you have any superstitions? Though I’ve never thrown a perfect game I have had my fair share of no-hitters. I try not to think during the game about my stats or how many hits I’ve given up, but, to be honest, how can I not! I’m a very superstitious person but in the littlest ways possible. My routine before games always varies, but some things I do I get nervous because I’ll get a feeling that if I do it a different way something bad will happen during the game. It’s rigorous, but necessary.
What are you looking for in a future college? I, obviously, am looking to play at the highest, most competitive level no matter what college it is at. I take huge value in heart and community, so I want to take that wherever I go. I’ve always had the dream to not only be on a winning team, but to be a role player in the winning. I want to leave the program better than I found it and even leave a legacy other girls want to follow. I have huge goals and dreams for myself in college, some might say they’re too big, but I know there’s a college out there willing to have faith in me.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? My college major is still undecided, but I hope to possibly go into criminal psychology or even sports marketing. I don’t want my passion and IQ for the game to stop after college, so I plan to either commentate on sports or continue sports influencing through the digital world. On the other hand, a more serious career I want to pursue is Criminal Profiling. I plan to take on my love for psychology and understanding of how criminal intellect works through an older age, even possibly pursuing the FBI.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Though we have a love hate relationship, I’d have to say math. For me, I love the feeling of solving a puzzle and I feel like math is a big puzzle you must put together. Plus, it’s certainly not easy, so it pushes me to really focus on learning it.
Who is your sports hero and why? 100 percent Michael Jordan. I know that’s a popular answer, but I look up to Jordan for a different reason. Sure growing up I admired his amazing skills, but as I grew into the athlete I am I learned to respect his mentality. He pushes himself and his teammates to a high level and understands what that takes. Hearing him and how his teammates talk about him, I realized we share a lot of the same mental approaches to the game.
What’s the best hype song and why? For sure, “All of the Lights” by Rihanna and Kanye. This never fails to get my adrenaline pumping before games and get me into the spirit to dominate.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? I could rewatch “The Summer I Turned Pretty” over and over. I fell in love with that show because of its summer feel and because I love Jenny Han movies.
What’s your favorite movie and why? “Grown Ups 2.” Growing up, I used to watch it with my dad all the time and each time it wouldn’t fail to make me laugh. How could I not with all of those funny actors!
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I never do it because I think it’s weird, but while trying to learn how to whistle I discovered I can make really good bird noises.
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NEWS & NOTES
***Top Club Nationals is Wednesday-Saturday, June 21-24, in OKC. Follow the tournament online HERE.
OC Batbusters-Stith is the defending 18U champion, Hotshots National-Jones is the defending 16U champion, Texas Glory 2K26 and Texas Glory-Naudin shared the 14U title last summer and Hotshots National 09 is the defending 12U champion.
***The inaugural Patriot Games Thursday-Saturday, June 22-24, in Windsor, CO, features teams in 14U, 16U and 18U competing for championships.
Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The 2023 Scenic City Summer is Thursday-Sunday, June 22-25, in Chattanooga, TN. Teams in 14U, 16U and 18U will compete for championships.
Follow the tournament online HERE.
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HSOTD
Today’s Hype Song of the Day is …
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BTITW
Today’s Best Thing In The World is …
The jump.. 😊 pic.twitter.com/djtVghexXf
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) June 19, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)
