After reevaluating her college prospects, S&S pitcher Hayden Mowrey recommitted last week and, in doing so, has her course set.
Mowrey originally committed to North Texas in September 2024 and remained committed through a head coaching change that spring.
Once the school year began, however, she began to question whether the Mean Green was right for her.
After taking a step back, Wichita State emerged as the place that aligned with her goals on and off the field.
She inked her deal Friday afternoon in front of the crowded gym bleachers at S&S High School.
“The program (at Wichita State) is continuing to grow and get better and the school is investing a lot into the program,” Mowrey said. “They are in the middle of doing a bunch of renovations… the school has shown they are willing to put in the effort to make the program better, number one. And… they were just excited to have me there and they made me feel welcome. I just can’t wait to get out there and get to work.”
She has been a dominant pitcher and a proven hitter throughout her high school career and has made waves at the select club level as well.
She is joined by three teammates who signed in November — Lana Walters (Incarnate Word), Brooklyn Sterling (Texas A&M–Texarkana) and Saryn Dowell (Austin College).
Now that the future is set, Mowrey now turns her attention to a highly anticipated senior season.
S&S enters the year with high expectations after one of the best seasons in program history.
“Definitely the goal this year is to win state,” Mowrey said. “We got almost there, but this year we are going to win it. Preparation is just really a grind. We put in a lot of work last year. It rolls over a little bit, but you’ve got to be working every single day. This year, we decided as a team that we are going to work extra hard and go get that win."
The Lady Rams reached the state semifinals last spring for the first time since 2008.
They finished the year 27-3.
Two of those losses came against eventual State Champion Coahoma, but— along the way— S&S snapped the Lady Bulldogs’ 90-game winning streak in Game 2 of the semifinal series.
Mowrey set some personal records as well.
She went 25-3 with a 0.76 ERA, 278 strikeouts, three perfect games, six no-hitters and 17 shutouts, while hitting .533 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs.
She was named District 11-3A MVP and earned first-team all-state honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association.
In 2024, she helped S&S to a 28-9 record while earning district Utility Player of the Year honors, and as a freshman in 2023 she made an immediate varsity impact despite a late-season injury.
Mowrey is off to Wichita State, a program with seven NCAA Tournament appearances and multiple conference titles.
For now, her focus remains on finishing her S&S career strong before taking the next step — one made with the same purpose she brings to every pitch.
“I started playing select softball when I was seven. Since then, I watched college players on TV and just knew that’s where I wanted to be one day.”
So now she’ll have her chance.
Mowrey has declared herself an accounting major and looks forward to getting on campus this summer.
She has attended S&S CISD since kindergarten. Hayden is the daughter of Caleb and Shelly Mowrey of Sadler.
