Payton Kennedy turned 18 on Friday, an event every teenager cherishes, but for her it also happened to be a game day, meaning any celebration had to be put on hold until victory was won.
“I walked into the team room and there was Starbucks in my cubby, gifts, and they sang me happy birthday,” the Santa Margarita senior said. “I love my teammates so much.”
The best present of all was one she gave herself by pitching four innings and adding two hits and two RBIs in host Santa Margarita’s 5-2 triumph over Mater Dei in its Trinity League softball opener.
Rated one of the best pitchers and hitters in Orange County, Kennedy has the numbers to back the hype. Through Friday she was 4-0 in the circle with 30 innings pitched to go with 16 hits, 19 RBIs, six home runs, a .457 batting average, a 1.000 slugging percentage and a 1.512 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.
She also plays first and third base, having been an All-Southern Section Division 1 selection as an infielder last year when she hit seven homers. Now a senior, her focus is on a section championship.
Kennedy is nicknamed “PayDay” for her penchant for producing in the clutch.
“That started way back in All-Stars when I was 6 years old,” she remembered. “My coach was [former NFL player] Mike Brown. I had a good day in rec ball and he said that and it just kind of stuck.”
Though she lives in San Clemente, Kennedy chose to go to Santa Margarita in large part to strengthen a bond she formed with girls who were teammates on youth teams.
“I’ve been playing with these nine seniors since we were all 10. … I’m so happy with my decision,” she said. “My four years here have been so special. We win together and we want to go as far as we can. This is our year to do it.”
Kennedy started her last season strong in February, blasting five homers while being named most valuable player at the Waimea Invitational in Hawaii, where Santa Margarita earned a share of first place. She cited that trip as her biggest thrill in the sport.
Next year Kennedy will take her talent to the Southeastern Conference, having signed with Mississippi to fulfill a childhood dream of playing NCAA softball.
“I wanted to play in a Division 1 Power Five [conference] and was considering some Pac-12 schools until they switched to the Big Ten,” Kennedy said. “California weather’s the best but I was open to other parts of the country too. I made official visits to Indiana, Iowa and Ole Miss in November. I liked the coaching staff, got to meet all the players and I’m excited to be a Rebel.”
Longtime Santa Margarita coach John Fitzpatrick has seen many exceptional players over the years, but said in terms of character, “PayDay” is as good as it gets.
“She’s not only a great player and a great teammate, but a great person,” said Fitzpatrick, who piloted the Eagles to the Southern Section Division 1 crown in 2010 and earned his ...
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