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There’s trying to improve your craft and then there’s the laser focus of high sophomore pitcher/first baseman Haley Ferguson of Beavercreek, Ohio, who will do whatever it takes to get better… including put some serious time in weekly drives to meet with her softball instructor.
Pretty much every Tuesday since last August, Haley has traveled with her father, Jeremy Ferguson, across the Buckeye State line into Indiana to work out with noted pitching trainer Laura Rothrock.
This isn’t just a hop, skip and jump across town either—it’s a 2 ½ hour commute one way to Rothrock’s facility in Franklin, Indiana, which is about 20 miles south of Indianapolis, from the Ferguson home in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton area in Southeast Ohio.
Once at the Tincher Training facility, she’ll work out for about 90 minutes and then dad and daughter will begin the 147-mile one way trip back home.
That makes for a long, long day for dad and daughter, but both swear it’s been worth it.
Haley has been on the national radar for years, shining initially in the Beverly Bandits travel ball organization and being ranked as high as #6 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100—last year she was #13 overall—before more recently moving to the Tennessee Mojo program.
As a freshman at Beavercreek High in 2021, the athlete tossed 150 innings and compiled a 0.60 ERA while striking out 302 batters and leading the team with a batting average of .567 and nine home runs. She was tabbed an Ohio All-State honoree and also earned 1st team All-Conference honors as she led her squad to a 5th place finish at the Div. I level and also set a school single season record with 292 strikeouts.
Still, the low-to-mid 60’s throwing pitcher felt she needed more in her game and became impressed with Coach Laura and her daughter, Keagan, a ’23 grad who has been hugely successful in her own pre-college career, committing as a 7th grader to the Univ. of Florida, winning a state title last her for her Roncalli (Ind.) High team and participating for the U-18 USA Jr. Women’s National Team in events such as the WBSC World Cup last Summer.
In early August of 2021, the Ferguson father/daughter tandem began loading up his Ram truck for the long drive westward and are adamant that they’ve seen the benefits from their travels.
“We’ve done it every Tuesday since early August,” says the athlete’s father, “and Haley has never complained one time. She’s still excited every week to go.”
The family estimates they’ve put 30,000 miles on their vehicles driving for the lessons and now Haley is playing on the Tennessee Mojo – Lunsford team while Dad is an assistant coach.
Currently, with the high school season just starting this week, the Fergusons will move their lessons to Sundays at her Coach Rothrock’s Powerhouse Athletics facility until the Spring prep campaign is complete.
Obviously, all involved feel the miles and time are worth it for the teen standout who gets up in the morning before school to hit the gym and through it all has maintained a 4.1 GPA.
“Haley has reinvented herself with Laura’s Tincher pitching and playing with the Mojo Lunsford,” her father explains. “Her pitching speed is 61-63 mph consistently and she now has a dominant curve along with a rise and change. Haley’s strikeouts are up and she’s finally comfortable with all the new changes going on in her life.”
As for the long road trips. Haley says she loves her time with in the car with her father and then working out with Coach Rothrock, who teaches between 50-60 lessons a week and on the weekends has athletes who will fly in from out of state.
The well-respected teacher and trainer is also active with Haley during the week and not just while together in their on-site workouts.
“Haley sends videos during the week whenever she needs an extra eye, when she feels off, or just to show how much her dedication is helping her achieve different aspects of her mechanics or her pitches,” Coach Laura explains.
“She asks questions throughout lessons and before she leaves, just to make sure she fully understood our goals for the week. Haley is an awesome kid and has a great support system behind her at home.”
The Hoosier State-based instructor says that when she first met Haley last Fall, she was impressed with how determined she is get better daily and attain her goals.
“She isn’t afraid to try something new to get to the next level,” Rothrock continues. “She isn’t afraid to set her goals high and bust her butt to get to her goals. She is a workhorse!”
“Haley gets better as she goes,” her instructor concludes. “She has a strong mindset and I feel that sets her apart from others. Haley never settles and always wants more out of her game.”
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Here’s our Extra Inning Softball Q&A with Haley…
You obviously have a lot of daddy/daughter time! What do you do during the trips to make the time go faster?
Music. My dad has passed on a love for old country songs and ‘90’s hip hop. I also love my nap on the way. We have dinner together every week and, on the way home, I do homework and Dad attempts to help me (laughs).
Have you been slowed or delayed by weather at all? Is it a scenic drive or mostly boring?
We have the occasional traffic issues, but two-thirds of the drive is scenic and enjoyable.
When you’re with Coach Laura, walk us through what you do in a typical workout…
We start with our every days (plyo, bands, heavy ball, stretching). We then throw to stretch. Next is one-on-one tarp work for isolation drills, then we go full pitch with isolation work before we lastly focus on specific pitches and all out speed and spin.
How would you say you’ve grown or advanced since working with her?
Laura has pushed me from Day 1. There was laughter and a feeling I belonged in our first hour lesson. The next thing I knew that lesson was two hours and I did not want it to end! She demands nothing short of 100% every lesson and I truly love it.
Describe your pitches and what you throw… and with the game on the line, what would be your “out pitch?”
Do you really want me to reveal my secrets (laughs)? I have always been a spot pitcher with a dominate curve ball. With Laura over the last six months, I have opened up the vertical plains. I have added a rise and improved the change-up which I find being my go-to pitches in the Fall and Winter.
My new Mojo coaches are new to my style which has been great because they only see me as this new pitcher. Coach Lunsford always mentions 212 (degrees) is the boiling point for water and when you can power a train. At 211, it is just hot water. They make me push for 212 with all that Laura is teaching me. They don’t settle into what they are comfortable with. It is the perfect match.
Your dad said you’ve never complained about the drive and are still excited to go every week… what feeds that passion and excitement for you?
I’ve truly loved the sport for as long as I remember and going to Laura is something I look forward to every week. Just knowing how much I’ll learn each week has helped me build and grow more as a complete pitcher. There is a structure, core mechanics, and a breakdown from the stretches to the individual spins. The entire atmosphere—from music to personalities of people I see each week to the one-on-one with Laura—is just always a blast.
You seem like the type who loves to be pushed and not be in a “comfort zone”… true?
Very true … I’m always looking to be better than I was yesterday. I had the comfort and support for many years in the sport but it turned into a crutch. I hate anyone saying there is a limit or ceiling to the sport or my growth. Every day is a challenge to prove that wrong.
Last Fall, you joined your nationally-ranked high school cross country team… how was that experience for you?
I’m not your typical cross country runner and was a little nervous, but the experience helped me grow both physically and mentally. Coach (Howard) Russ is amazing! The cross-country training and his coaching definitely has helped me become a better softball player. He worked on my endurance and my mental game and I look forward to that again next Fall.
What’s been your favorite softball experience?
The travel and new friends I’ve made across the country. I have great friends here in Ohio but now I have sisters in Georgia, Tennessee, California and so many other states. It is a blessing.
In one word, how would you describe yourself on the field? Off the field?
On the field: “fearless.”
Off the field: “learner.”
Summarize what softball means to you….
Softball is my passion, it’s an outlet to express myself and grow. It’s an adventure to see the world one field at a time and is precious family time I will always treasure. I spend a lot of time with my sisters and parents and it is amazing having them.
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball