It didn’t take North Royalton Softball Dave Camp to describe what Hayley Turske means to this year’s team. “She’s our leader. She’s stepped in and is doing what our seniors did last year. Hayley has taken it upon herself to bring these young kids into the tradition that we are trying to start here.”
It’s high praise for a senior who has led the Lady Bears in the circle for the past three years.
“We’re doing a lot better than I expected. We lost so many seniors from last year’s team. We need to find that one game where we can put all of our potential together. When that happens, we’ll be fine.”
The season started off for the Lady Bears in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where the team played four games, got to practice outside and were able to spend time together.
“We didn’t know a lot about each other before the trip. We’re definitely really close right now. It brought us together. Myrtle Beach was a good start in teaching us how to play with each other and trust each other,” said Turske.
Standing in the circle is where Hayley feels the most comfortable on the softball diamond. “I play first base during the summers. I played one inning of center field in High School. It was bad and I wanted to get back to the circle.”
Hayley credits her dad with introducing her to softball. “My dad was always my coach from T-ball to high school. He started me out with the basics, slow-pitch and that. He took me to a pitching lesson one day and ever since it kind of clicked and I’ve worked at it since.”
While Hayley understands her role on the diamond, she also has a grasp of what’s expected from her outside the white lines.
“I’ve been in it for so long that I want it to succeed and flourish.”
Coach Camp says he depends so much on the leadership that Hayley provides to the team, especially to the sophomores and juniors.
“Leadership was something I was worried about at the end of last season. Today, it’s something I don’t even worry or think about. She pitches us. She hits us. When Maddie (Maddie Piller) is pitching, Hayley’s in the dugout getting everybody up; and she keeps them up.”
But, Hayley’s leadership skills go beyond the dugout and on the field.
“She tells us what we’re wearing, where we’re supposed to be and what time we’re supposed to be there and leave. And she leads practices. She’s been our starting pitcher for three years and she hasn’t put her head down one time. She hasn’t pouted. Hayley has gone out and proven and proven that this is her team. And she’s going to carry us.”
Next year, Hayley plans to attend college, but, it doesn’t look like she’ll be in the circle at the next level. “If I really miss it, I may see if I can walk on. I’m planning to take the summer off. But, if I miss it so much, I may try to jump on a team. I know it’s going to be hard, but, I have to cut it off at some point.”
If this is Haley Turske’s last season in the circle, cheer a little bit louder when she walks to the dugout during her last game. Her dedication to the North Royalton Softball team is unmatched. Job well done!

By JOE JASTRZEMSKI
Contributing Writer