Jada Heaton (left) and Mia Farris, ready to rock the softball diamond. (Jennifer Heaton photo)
“I have a great group of friends I play softball with. Every year we strive to be better.”
That’s working out quite nicely for Jada Heaton, as she and her playing companions have done exactly that — get progressively stronger and more-talented with each season.
The group has piled up wins, captured district titles, and made runs at the state tourney as little leaguers, capped by a recent fourth-place finish at the big dance in Vancouver while playing as the Whidbey Island All-Star juniors squad.
Along the way, a quick scan of photos shows Heaton almost always wearing a huge smile while in action, whether spraying hits at the plate or chasing down long bombs to the outfield.
“Get back here, you!” Heaton pulls off a Willie Mays-style catch near the outfield wall. (Jackie Saia photo)
The young star on the rise derives a great deal of joy from her time on the field, and her time spent with a close-knit group of friends.
“Softball is my favorite, because I’ve been playing since I was little,” Heaton said. “I like playing sports with my friends as a team. Win or lose. Trying to always get better.”
Now, with her little league days having come to an end after big wins at the state tourney over teams from Puyallup and Mukilteo, she’s on the path to beginning a new career as an athlete.
Heaton will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, and plans to play volleyball, basketball, and softball for the Wolves.
“I’m excited to play them all in high school,” she said. “I want to keep getting better; hopefully letter in all three of those sports.”
“Hand me my bat, ladies. Mama has to go wreck some fools!” (Jackie Saia photo)
Athletics keep Heaton hopping — “Not much time for anything besides sports,” she said with a laugh — but she did have a great time in one particular class.
“I enjoyed working on the middle school yearbook,” she said. “Hoping I will be on the yearbook staff for high school.”
In everything she does, Heaton leans on those close to her for positive reinforcement.
“My family is always supporting me,” she said. “I (also) have an amazing group of friends.
“Most of us have been together since preschool,” Heaton added. “I am thankful for their friendship.”
Regardless of which of her sports she’s playing at a given moment, she always tries to approach things with a can-do outlook.
“One of my strengths as an athlete would be my attitude,” Heaton said. “I try hard to encourage my teammates.
“I also listen to my coaches good and bad. Learn from what they are telling me,” she added. “I will work 110% and not give up. Working hard, but also having fun doing it.”
The happy warrior. (Corinn Parker photo)
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