Payton Westra, the outstanding outfielder who plays for Steve Appel’s Arizona Rising 18U team, took two trips and realized what she wanted for her college future.

Can you say “Boomer Sooner?”

A week ago today (Sept. 20, 2024), Payton was honored when the 2026 Line Drive HOT 100 rankings were finished as she was listed in the Top 10, at #7 overall, in her class.

Here’s what her HOT 100 bio stated last Friday while she actually was on the Univ. of Oklahoma campus for her official visit.

T-7—Payton Westra, OF, Arizona Rising 18U – Appel
Payton is a “physical specimen of an athlete” according to Head Coach Steve Appel, “as she stands over 6-foot tall and as strong as an ox she intimidates any team when she’s in the batter’s box.” As strong as she is, Payton can play all the outfield spots smoothly as well as first base. Last season, she batted .398 with 15 home runs and 78 RBIs and just recently finished playing for the U18 Team USA squad. She’s at Oklahoma this weekend and is also visiting Texas A&M, Texas, UCLA and Stanford. Amazingly, Payton had over 50 schools reach out to her on Sept. 1, the first day college coaches could do so.

After the trip to Norman, the outstanding junior pulled the trigger and committed to OU.

“When I visited OU,” she told Line Drive Softball this week, “it checked every box of mine.”

“The coaches made me feel very confident in their ability to produce a championship team and the support the school has for softball is incredible.

“I feel that the coaches, players, support staff, and facilities are everything I need to be the best teammate, student, and player. I felt OU was doing everything in their power to win on and off the field, and that is exactly the kind of program I want to be a part of.”

Ranked at #3 in the nation in the Outfielders category and  #4 in the West Region, she had previously taken official visits to Texas A&M and Texas and cancelled planned campus trips to UCLA and Stanford.

“Payton had a lot of interest from schools,” Coach Appel added, “and she wants to help her team to win the national title. That has always been a goal along with making Team USA and her decision to attend OU with their history and pedigree aligns with her goals.”

“OU is getting a tremendous softball player and an even better person it’s going to be fun to watch her in college.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball