Haylee Armstrong hangs out with dad after a summer softball tourney win. (Michelle Armstrong photo)
“It’s nice to have a scare every now and then.”
That’s why, away from the world of sports, where she plays volleyball, basketball, and softball — both school and travel ball versions — Haylee Armstrong enjoys horror flicks like The Conjuring.
But it also carries over to the diamond and court, where the incoming Coupeville freshman often delivers performances which freak out rival players and coaches.
Case in point was this past spring, when Armstrong spent most of the season as a starter for the CHS varsity softball team — while still attending classes in middle school.
She hit .467 at the plate as an 8th grader, showed off a strong glove (and arm) as an outfielder and pitcher, and slammed an out-of-the-park home run to dead center.
Fresh off winning Rookie of the Year honors from Wolf coaches, Armstrong is spending a chunk of her summer traveling with the Whidbey Island Thunder select softball squad, while also prepping for high school volleyball and basketball.
She enjoys all of her sports, but has a special connection to diamond life.
“Softball is my favorite because you get to throw the ball as hard as you want and take your anger out during batting,” Armstrong said.
“I’ve been told I’m like a Swiss Army knife; I can play any position where I’m needed.”
While she’s likely to pile up strong individual stats, Armstrong is a team player through and through, looking to elevate her teammates and reveling in their accomplishments as much as her own.
“I love the joy when everybody screams at that last game winning point or run during games,” she said.
Dancing into a bright athletic future. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
A strong math student who likes that class because “once I learn a lesson, it snaps instantly,” Armstrong also enjoys the music of Olivia Rodrigo, “because her voice is really beautiful.”
As she enters high school, the hard-working teen has her eyes set on leaving her mark.
“My goal is to make varsity, be a leader to younger athletes, and work harder every day to be a better person than I was the day before,” Armstrong said.
She wants to work on her “hitting form and shooting form” going forward, while listing her athletic strengths as “leadership, listening, and following the instructions given to me by my coaches.”
Her parents, Joe and Michelle, are her role model, her primary support crew, and her chauffeurs, and she deeply appreciates them.
“They have made an impact on showing me I can do anything I set my mind on,” Armstrong said.
Playing sports year-round, she’s had plenty of mentors, all with something to teach her.
“My coaches have always encouraged and pushed me to do my best,” Armstrong said.
“Coach Aaron (Lucero), Coach Kevin (McGranahan), Coach Lark (Gustafson), Coach Cris (Matochi), Coach Kassie (O’Neil), and Coach K (Katrina McGranahan) have made a huge impact on how I play and where I learned to play.”
