Two Westfield seniors sign their letters of intent

PERRY, Ga. — On Thursday, Nov. 10, students, family members and representatives from media outlets gathered in the gymnasium to watch two of Westfield’s finest — James Hays and Sydney Langdon — make it official and sign their letters of intent.

Hays, who pitches and plays third base for Westfield’s baseball team, signed with the University of Georgia. Unable to pitch during the regular season due to the fact he was recovering from an injury, Hays pitched this summer at the USA 18U National Team Training Camp and the USA All-American Game — a game which includes some of the most talented players in the country. Hays put up great numbers in 2022, including a .436 batting average, 34 hits, four home runs, 25 RBIs and a .587 OBP, which put him in the top 15 for OBP in the entire GIAA conference.

At UGA, Hays will be playing under Scott Stricklin, the Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach. Last season the Dawgs were eliminated by North Carolina in the NCAA Regionals, but with two stars from Houston County coming into the program — Hays and Ryker Chavis, from Houston County High School — they are looking to get back in the mix and make it back to the College World Series. Congratulations to both young men, and it will be interesting to watch the Dawgs in the future.

“You know, as I grew up, I wasn’t really a fan of any place,” Hays said after the signing. “I was kind of neutral about all of the schools, and after going to visit different places, I just felt at home at Georgia, and that is where it led me to go.”

He went on to say, “It’s a different chapter in life, and it’s a milestone that every kid dreams of — it’s a great day.”

Langdon, a dual-sport athlete who plays softball and basketball, will play softball for the Kentucky Wildcats. She had a phenomenal season, guiding Westfield to their sixth consecutive state championship, a remarkable achievement, and they finished undefeated, winning 28 games. This team is like family, and down several times during the season, they rallied to remain undefeated.

Langdon finished the season with a .517 batting average, 22 RBIs, and 13-0 record. Her ERA of .73 was eighth in the entire nation, which is the first time I’ve ever seen a player from Houston County ranked in the top ten in the nation in any category, in any sport.

Her career statistics at Westfield are impressive, to say the least. In 80 appearances (65 games started) she had 64 wins (fourth-highest total in history of program) and three losses (fewest in the program’s history); a .9552 winning percentage (program record); 606 strikeouts (third-highest total in history of program); ERA 1.075; BAA .146 (program record); 3 saves (Tied for program record).

“I had a couple of different choices, but when it came down to decision-making time, I felt that Kentucky was the best fit for me,” said Langdon. “I love the coaches, the campus and everything they had to offer.”

She revealed how it felt to finally sign with a college team: “It’s exciting. It’s bittersweet to leave Westfield, but I’m excited about the future.”

In addition to her accomplishments at Westfield, Langdon was named to the GIAA AAA Region 5 All-Region team and the GIAA AAA All-State team. She was also named All-Region Player of the Year and All-State Pitcher of the Year.

Although I’m sure Westfield is sad to see them go, Hays and Langdon are ready to transition into the next phase of their lives. I’m sure they will represent Westfield well and make their marks at the next level.

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