Hayden Fox’s journey to dominating on the diamond

BY DREW FLEMING

Associate Producer

Hayden Fox is a Tarleton State University student pursuing a master’s in dietetics and dominating on the diamond. Fox has played on the Tarleton softball team for three seasons, starting her fourth this semester.

Fox started her journey at a young age, joining her first t-ball team at just four years old. She said she started in the sport because she followed in her older brother's footsteps, joking that she got his hand-me-downs.

Fox fell in love with softball and has been playing ever since. She graduated from Gunther High School in 2022, where she lettered in softball for four years and served as a three-time team captain.

“We take a lot of pride in your town there,” Fox said. “I always had so much pride and loyalty to Gunther when I was playing, that I just wanted to do the best I could for the town. We all just kind of band together and wanted to do it and play for something bigger than all of us.”

Softball is a huge part of Fox’s life; she credits her parents' support for her success and ability to play at the DI level.

“My parents are the reason I do what I do, they're amazing. My dad actually passed away a few years ago, and he was a big reason why I practiced every day. He would meet me after school after he worked his long day of being on his feet, and he would come and throw balls to me,” Fox said. “My mom would take me to my tournaments every weekend, taking away all her free time because they both worked very hard for their careers. They put all their extra time into me; I'm just so thankful that I had parents like them.”

Fox lost her father to cancer in 2024, during her sophomore season at Tarleton. Fox credits her faith for helping her during her grief, both on and off the field.

“When my dad passed away, my sophomore year, I was kind of hit with, ‘This could either go one of two ways: Are you going to choose the world to be your support? Are you going to choose Jesus?’ Thankfully, with Jesus' plan, I chose him, and it has been my number one support,” Fox said. “I have realized I'm more than an athlete, I am more than a student, I am already chosen, called, loved and kept by Jesus. So everything else is just to glorify Him.”

During that difficult time, Fox said she was able to rely on the support of her teammates as well. She and her teammates would go to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) every Wednesday. This on-campus fellowship at Tarleton is where student athletes worship together.

“The support for my fellow teammates is what kept me upright during all that turmoil that was going on. I struggled really badly with anxiety after, and the only reason I could get through it is that my teammates were by me every day,” Fox said.

Leigh Anne Budd was Fox’s softball coach in high school and has known Fox for eight years. Budd has been a part of Fox’s softball journey ever since.

“One thing that has rooted [Fox] is her faith and her family,” Budd said. “I think that's what really pushed her to the next level; she faced a lot of challenges a couple of years ago. Most people would probably just put their head down and sulk about it, but she was not shaken. She stands stronger because of her faith and her family, who support her. So hands down, she is one of the hardest workers I've ever known.”

On and off the field, Fox’s work ethic and love for softball shine through. Her support system and faith have helped her become the player she is today.

“She leads with grace,” Budd said. “On the field, she always shows up early. She stays late. She gave everything she had. But off the field, she faced some challenges, and she has just risen above to be the best version of herself.”

Fox credits Budd for teaching her leadership styles, how to use different personality types and how to bring everyone together. Fox has taken these leadership skills into her team here at Tarleton.

“People just gravitate toward her,” Budd said. “She was very encouraging when teammates were struggling, she carried herself with humility. It never really mattered about the stats when we talk about Hayden. It's more about her character that shines through when she's on the field. She has passion, she has grit, she has love for the game.”

During her freshman season at Tarleton, Fox led the Tarleton freshmen in average hitting. During the same 2023 season, she knocked her first collegiate hit, stolen base and run against the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Sophomore year, Fox was named a 2024 Easton/NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete. She emphasized that being a student comes first. Fox mentioned that she has to find a balance of studying while traveling for tournaments, which is a testament to her hard work and dedication.

As a junior, she totaled 42 hits, 22 runs and 22 RBIs (runs batted in). While Fox has certainly flourished during her time on the field at Tarleton, she also credits her time off the field, where her character and commitment to the game shine through.

Fox says she is excited for the rest of this season and is working hard with her team to prepare for a run at the WAC conference this year. She is looking forward to playing at the WAC tournament, which Stephenville will host for the first time. The Tarleton State Softball Complex will host six teams competing for the WAC conference tournament title in early May.