What a whirlwind of a year it’s been for Peyton Purves, the outstanding backstop from the Midwest who committed to Purdue University last week.

In the spring, she came down with an illness that put her in Intensive Care for several days, but she was able to return with a vengeance in the summer to impress several top D1 schools that recruited and offered her.

Here’s more on this Midwest standout who will be heading East about three hours from home to play in the Big Ten…

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Player Name: Peyton Purves
Grad Year: 2027
Position(S): C/OF
Club Team: St Louis Chaos 16U National Perone/Beatty
High School: Rochester (Ill.) High
Top Stats:

• High School: hit .617 with a 1.844 OPS, eight home runs and 49 RBIs in 19 games played.
• Travel Ball: batted .350 with a .1203 OPS, a slugging percentage of .825, 16 home runs, 51 RBIs and a .974 fielding percentage.

Top Honors: 1^st Team All-Conference, Athletic Academic All-Conference Honor Roll
Committed To: Purdue University

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When did you officially commit to Purdue?
I officially committed on Tuesday, September 23 and posted on Wednesday the 24th.

How did you let the Boilermaker coaches know you’d be playing for them?
I committed over the phone with (Head) Coach (Magali) Frezzotti. We were at home. I would have loved to do it in person but didn’t want to wait any longer!

What impressed you most about Purdue?
What really stood out to me was the coaching staff, how close it is to home, the academics and the direction the program is heading. It also just felt different while I was there compared to the other visits I went on. I knew it was where I wanted to be. There are big things in store for the program, and I want to be a part of it!

Have you done anything fun to celebrate the happy occasion?
We haven’t done anything yet, but my parents want to have a dinner with the whole family to celebrate.

What campus trips did you take?
I took official visits to Purdue, Kentucky, and Northwestern all within a two-and-a-half-week span. Purdue was my first visit and the following weekend I went to University of Kentucky and that following Wednesday I went to Northwestern. I really liked having them all so close together.

What did Coach Frezzotti and her staff say attracted them to your play?
The coaches have really liked my catching, and they told me they noticed how much stronger I got over the winter. They said my hitting had really improved and now matched my catching skills, which stood out to them. I attended my first camp there in the fall of freshman year, so they have seen me develop over the past two years.

What have the coaches said about how they see your role being once you get to West Lafayette?
The coaches have said that, as long as I keep hitting and developing my game the way I have been, there will be a spot for me on the field. They see me as a catcher, but they also think I could play other positions because of my athleticism.

What, in your opinion, are three of your biggest softball accomplishments?
My three biggest softball accomplishments

1. Achieving my goal of playing Division 1 softball at a Power 4 school – Purdue!
2. Winning back-to-back Regionals my freshman and sophomore years and hoping to make it three this year!
3. One accomplishment I’m really proud of is recovering from an illness that put me in the PICU for five days during the school season.

I only got to play 19 games and missed the second half of the regular season while recovering, but I was able to heal in time for the postseason and the entire summer season.

With how important this summer was for recruiting, I’m just really thankful I was able to bounce back and be on the field.

Any final thoughts?
I am truly grateful and excited to continue to play the game I love at Purdue!