Payton Calhoun isn't your ordinary 12 yr old

Payton Calhoun isn't just an ordinary 12-year old softball player. Her skills are so sharp that she currently practices with the Cascia Hall varsity players. But Calhoun, who plays catcher, was ahead of the game at a much younger age when she started playing the game she loves at the age of four on her school coed T-Ball team at Marquette. Calhoun moved to Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of eight where she tried out for a 10-and-under competitive team in Crystal Bustos' organization - Bustos Ultimates. Although Peyton was younger than the other players trying out for the team, Bustos said Payton was a "teachable player" and that there was "something special in her." The team qualified for and played in the USSSA 10U - a national tournament in Panama City, Fla., as a first-year team. This was the defining year that really set Calhoun's path into the competitive softball world. Calhoun has played on several traveling teams, playing in tournaments across the country since her arrival back to Tulsa. She takes lessons in instructions from Tommy Rogers and Dave Simmons, coaches for the Tulsa Eagles 18U Gold showcase team. For the last two years, Calhoun has participated in the Dave Simmons College Exposure Camp in Tulsa where college recruiters come out and scout potential players. Her skills evaluation has been impressive, better than many of the older high school level players. "Size does not matter, it is the size of my heart and love for the game that gives me the courage to compete at the level I do," Calhoun said. "Dad tells me to bring the "Big dog" out when I step onto the field. I am just competitive in everything I do, even playing video games to Monopoly. I just want to win." "It's her knowledge and her ability to understand the game at her age that makes her so special," Rogers said. "She's playing with two age groups that are older than her, but she's still able to compete at a high level. "She is so knowledgeable when she's behind the plate and she is way ahead of the game." Last spring, Calhoun was picked up by the 14U Tuff-E-Nuff team to play catcher and compete in many 16U tournaments. Last fall, Calhoun's team traveled to Plano, Texas and participated in the 18U Diamond Sports College Showcase geared towards Division II, Division III, junior college and NAIA recruiters. During the tournament, Calhoun received a lot of attention from college coaches coming to see her play because of her size and age and successfully competing against high school players as old as 18. Calhoun's week is pretty much filled with softball and school. She spends two to three hours three days a week on softball lessons and practices twice a week with her team. Many weekends are filled with softball tournaments. Homework is often done in the car to and from practice, lessons and games. She was able to obtain a 4.0 GPA her first semester at Cascia Hall. Late night homework has become inevitable at times. Softball and school take up much or her time and most of her social time is spent with other softball players. While colleges from all over are taking notice, Simmons has already spoken to Stanford head coach John Rittman about Calhoun. Very few catchers Calhoun's age possess the technical skills she has been taught by Tommy Rogers. She has caught Hillary Bach, a senior at Holland Hall, and Cascia Hall senior pitcher Molly numerous times and has been able to hold her own with these quality pitchers. Niki Stansell and Bach are two mentors who have greatly influenced Calhoun's growth as a softball player. Stansell is a sophomore shortstop playing at the University of Georgia, while Bach will continue her playing career at Arizona State University.