RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Next up in the Extra Elite 100 Rankings will be the Class of 2023 which will begin October 24th with the deadline to enter players set at October 17th (click HERE for more info).
One player who has continued to rise in the senior class is Kaleigh Ayscue, a lefty slapper and outfielder from Apex, North Carolina, who was ranked #122 in the previous version of the ratings.
Kaleigh has won all types of honors and will even get to stay in-state to play her college ball at East Carolina and compete in the American Athletic Conference, which also includes Central Florida, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, Tulsa and Wichita State.
Here’s a closer look in Kaleigh’s own words at how she’s grown, developed and succeeded over the last two years…
*****
Name: KALEIGH AYSCUE
Grad Year: 2023
Club Team: Williamsburg Starz 18U National – Bunn (Va.)
Club Coaches: Coach Tom Bunn & Junior Pearce
Position: OF
Committed to: East Carolina University (Greenville, N.C.)
Verbally committed!! Go Pirates!! @NCChallengers @ECUSoftball pic.twitter.com/detD4gdvPM
— kaleigh ayscue (@kaleigh_ayscue) October 29, 2021
2021
High School
Before transferring to Apex High School in August of 2021 as a Junior, I played at Apex Friendship (N.C.) High School and was recognized with my fellow teammates as an All-American Scholar Athlete (for getting it done in the classroom as well as on the field); 4A South Wake Athletic Conference All Conference team; 4A All District and 4A NCHSAA All State First Team. I batted .477 with a 1.170 OPS and had a home run and 12 RBIs from the leadoff spot
Club
Playing the summer season of 2021 with the NC Challengers led by Coaches Adam Renzi, Amber DeWald and Jessica Ricks, we battled stiff competition in the Oak City Kickoff, Memorial Day Invite, Scenic City, Atlanta Legacy, Power 50 and finished in 3rd place at IDT in Boulder, Colorado and I hit .446 with 62 hits, 43 runs scored & 10 stolen bases
Going Camping
In the summer of 2021, I attended camps, camps & more camps as the 2023’s entered open recruitment after COVID pandemic restrictions were lifted. I also continued individual workouts for conditioning and endurance.
Fall
I finished the fall 2021 season with the NC Challengers 18U team and we travelled to tournaments and faced great competition in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Florida. I batted .419 last fall with 26 hits, 17 runs and six runs batted in.
My Best Day Ever (October 28, 2021)
After attending the East Carolina camp in September, I was extended an invite for unofficial visit to the ECU campus for the most wonderful day with the coaches. What a day visiting the beautiful campus, attending academic sessions, touring the Pirate Nation stadium; and the photo op in their official uniforms! We had lunch and, to top it off, a football game with tailgating.
It was incredible and, did you know, ECU has the largest and best-equipped college weight room in North Carolina? They even have their own juice/nutrition bar!
I fell in love with ECU and this program (note that my brother also attends ECU). It was a day I will never forget, especially when Head Coach Shane Winkler offered, and I accepted! I officially am now a Pirate and proud to wear the Purple & Gold.
2022
High School
For the Spring season of this year, my family moved and I transferred to Apex High School. Amazingly, in my first game with my new school, as the first batter I hit an out-of-the-park home run. We made it into the State Playoffs and almost pulled off a second round upset.
I was so excited to be included for second year in a row as a NCHSAA 4A SWAC 1st Team All-Conference selection as well as earned 4A All District Team and Academic All-Conference after batting .408 with a 1.053 OPS and had three home runs with 16 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
Club
More good news continued after my recruitment as I was given the wonderful opportunity to play with the Williamsburg Starz 18U National Bunn/Pearce team led by Coaches Chad Bunn and Junior Pearce.
Competing with these girls has been one of the most rewarding and positive experiences I have known in my softball career. My first tournament with Williamsburg Starz 18U National Bunn/Pearce we WON the Virginia State PGF Championship!
What a ride it was this summer as we were successful on the scoreboard, played competitors with our team’s phenomenal pitching and very powerful hitters and had one of the best coached teams I’ve had the opportunity to be a part.
The highlight of our season was in Indiana where Eden Bigham pitched three back-to-back games leading us into the Alliance Nationals Elite Eight.
I am so truly blessed to have met these softball sisters and wish them continued success and good luck in college! Five of the girls will be Virginia Cavaliers and three are playing for Virginia Tech.
For the summer, I batted .377 with 20 hits and had 13 runs scored and nine steals. In the Alliance Nationals, in nine games I hit .455 with 10 hits, six scores and had 10 put-outs in the outfield.
Getting Better
To prepare for this season, I worked with Coach Pearce and routinely used the simulated cages to improve hitting and timing skills. Skills wise, I am a triple threat at the plate and can drop a bunt for base hits, slap; or power hit away and, defensively, I can cover a lot of territory at the center, left or right outfielder positions
Giving Back
I’ve had many opportunities to also give back to my softball community: families have trusted me to provide lessons and to mentor new and talented players in the NC Challengers organization. In August, I joined Layla Lamar of Lady Dukes –Lamar in providing hitting and fielding instruction at a skills clinic in Cary, N.C..
During my off season, as my work schedule permitted being part time at Chick-Fil-A, I’ve guest played with our local Wake County American Legion Post #116 and continued my weight training exercises and drills at two local gyms….
Looking Ahead
It’s been an amazing last couple of years and I look forward to my senior year which is going to be my best year!
I can’t wait to take the field next week with the Williamsburg Starz at the ACFL qualifier. I recently enjoyed my official visit with coaches and my future teammates at ECU, too, and having trusted the process, I am so confident in God’s plan knowing “I Am Right Where I Need to Be.”
—- Kaleigh Ayscue, Class of 2023