A week from today—Monday, Dec. 7, 2020—we’ll launch our Extra Elite 100 Coach rankings beginning with the high school division, followed by club and college.
The point of the exercise is to honor these great men and women who do so much to promote the sport and help facilitate dreams coming true for young softball players!
To learn more, Click HERE
We’re looking at active coaches who qualify in four categories: softball success/accomplishments, developing players on and off the field, passion for what they do and an impact in the game.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight strong candidates who fit these criteria and today we head to the Lone Star State to learn more about one of these standouts, Eric Hays who runs the second-year 14U Impact Gold National team.
Wrote one parent of a player he’s coached:
“We feel that there isn’t a coach in the state of Texas in our age group who has impacted his players and grown his team from the ground up like Eric Hays.”
“Over the past seven years, he has taken a group of girls and developed them into top athletes. He has also provided many girls with opportunities they would not otherwise have gotten, playing for him. He is a wonderful person, coach, and family man, who has dedicated a significant portion of his time and resources to the families and players that play for him.”
*****
Name: ERIC HAYS
Position: Head Coach
Team: Impact Gold National – Hays (second year 14U)
Key Accomplishments:
- Created ETX Elite organization in Fall 2014 which developed three top club teams that have been recognized regionally and nationally.
- Fall 2020 record: 30-5-2
- Career record: 387-196-15
- Head Coach of several top-ranked players, three of whom he’s coached since 8U (2014) and several since 10U (2016)
- Owner and founder of many businesses including successful electrical, solar, and real estate companies.
Top team accomplishments:
Fall 2020:
- TFL (Tier 1) 14U Champions- Earned berth to Alliance Fastpitch Championship
- Fall 2020: undefeated in four weekends of play
- 1st place at Texans Lasso Lupus (16U tournament playing up)
- 1st place TFL Fall Championship
- 6-0 undefeated record at Bombers Exposure weekend
- 5-0 undefeated record at TFL Fall Kickoff
- 3rd place finish at Gold Cup
- 2nd place finish at College Classic
Summer 2020
- 51-23-3 (Jan-Aug 2020)
- (Tier 1) 14U placed Runner-Up (Alamo Bracket) Overall finish was 10th in TFL Rankings as first-year 14U team
- Summer 2020 earned berth to PGF Premier and Power Pool in Colorado Sparkler prior to COVID cancellations.
- Summer, 2019 earned berths to PGF Premier and USSSA World Fastpitch Championship (KC)
Previous records and teams
- Impact Gold National Hays (July 2020-present)
- Scrap Yard Dawgs Hays (Jan. 2020-July 2020)
- Texas Bombers Gold Hays (Mar. 2016-Dec. 2019)
- ETX Elite 06 (Aug. 2014-Mar. 2016)
Notable players:
Extra Inning Softball’s Extra Elite 100 rankings (current roster)
- #4 Keira Crosby (2025)
- #30 Siannah Nava (2025)
- #48 Kadence Hays (2025)
- #54 Hailey Toney (2024)
- #58 Alison Higginbotham (2024)
- #65 Allie Williams (2024)
- #74 Elyse Nesser (2024)
- #76 Raenna Liscano (2024)
- #140 Madison Bailey (2024)
- #153 Isabella Battaglia (2024)
- #164 Alyssa Moreno (2024)
- #268 Julissa Hernandez (2024)
Additional players on roster
- Janae Trojacek (2024)
- Leilaniz (Lele) Nieves (2024)
- Mallie West (2025)
Impact On & Off the Field
- When he began coaching in 2014, he sought out the local resources to find adequate practice fields, which eventually led to him building an indoor facility on his private property, which he allows his athletes to use seven days a week at no cost.
- Coach Hays has also provided the resources needed to help his players, including additional coaching, hi-tech equipment, etc. to help his athletes to get to the next level.
*** Scroll down to read what parents and players say about Coach Hays!
