Meet Hailey Ellins — the Wilsonville softball player chasing a college scholarship

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Meet Hailey Ellins. She is 16, from Wilsonville, and she pitches for the Haldimand Heat wearing number 24. Hailey picked up softball around age 12, just messing around with friends, and it turned into something she could not put down. Now she is a competitive pitcher with an Eastern Championship already behind her and a college scholarship in front of her. Here is her story in her own words.

Her Story

Hailey's softball story started the way a lot of great ones do, almost by accident. She was about 12, playing for fun with some friends, when she got asked to join a house league team in Norwich. That was all it took. She fell in love with the game almost immediately, and it did not stay casual for long. Before long she wanted to see how far she could push it, so she made the jump to competitive ball with the Haldimand Heat.

These days she takes the ball as a pitcher, wearing number 24. Ask her about her proudest moment and she does not hesitate. It was winning the Eastern Championship in 2025. She calls it a huge achievement for her and her team, and you can hear that the team part comes first. The win belonged to everyone who showed up for it.

Ask Hailey who shaped her most and the answer comes back close to home. Her mom and dad have been her number one supporters through all of it. She says they continuously push her to be the best version of herself, on and off the field. That last part matters to her. It is not just about softball. It is about who she is becoming while she plays it.

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What's Next

On the field, Hailey is aiming high. She would love to earn a scholarship and keep playing through college or university, taking the game as far as it will carry her. For a 16 year old pitcher with an Eastern title already on her resume, that is not a long shot. It is a plan.

Off the field, she is keeping her options open, and she is thoughtful about it. She says being young makes it hard to know exactly what comes next, but two paths stand out to her right now: teaching and sports management. Either way, she wants to stay close to the game and to the people in it.

Who She's Thanking

When it came time to thank people, Hailey spread it around. First her dad, for all the support and the countless nights of practice at home. Then Coach Courtney from Northern Force, who saw something in her and made sure she lived up to it. And finally Coach Shaun Winship, the one who shaped her on the mound through pitching lessons. Three people, three different roles, all pointing the same direction. That is what a support system looks like.