RANDOM LAKE — Jayla Harter has excelled for Random Lake softball both in the circle and at the plate.
Harter leads the Rams with 36 RBIs and four home runs while pitching all but three of Random Lake’s 101 innings through Tuesday.
She has struck out 129 batters compared to just 13 walks and has an ERA of 2.911.
“Jayla has really stepped it up this year,” Random Lake coach Mike LaFever said of the senior.
Her father, assistant coach Jason Harter, sees the time his daughter has put into the sport.
She was even named the unanimous Big East player of the year last season.
“You get what you put in and she’s worked her butt off her whole life,” Jason said. “Pitching lessons, hitting lessons, club ball. Just playing around the Midwest. She puts her time in and it shows.”
Jayla appreciates the time her father has put in with her too.
“My dad has been my coach for like my whole life so we just work together,” Jayla said. “Most days off we go to the field and do something.”
That’s not to say they don’t have disagreements from time to time,
“We get in a lot of fights but we get over it, and most of the time he is right so I have to like listen,” Jayla said with a smile.
Added Jason:
“Both of my daughters pitched at Random Lake and I’ve always called pitches and sometimes we do butt heads,” Jason said. “I’ll just ask where she’s missing, or what’s happening, and they’re girls.”
If Jayla had a choice between hitting or pitching she has a clear favorite.
“Hitting gets me hyped,” Jayla said. “I just wanted to keep hitting, that’s usually how it is. I always want to keep hitting and get more at bats.”
Back on May 6 in a 21-0 win over Howards Grove, Harter drove in seven runs and its performances like that which make LaFever’s eyes light up.
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“That certainly helps,” LaFever said with a laugh. “Those are nice games.”
There’s been plenty of standouts over the years at Random Lake and LaFever feels Harter is right up there with any of them.
“She’s probably one of the best I’ve had but I’ve had plenty of them,” LaFever said. “We’ve got a long line of good girls.”
As for what makes Harter so special, LaFever echoes what her father said earlier.
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“Her dedication to the game and her will not to give up,” LaFever said.
Harter will play at NCAA Division III Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, once her time at Random Lake concludes but there’s still the postseason to go.
The Rams earned the second seed in its WIAA Division 4 half sectional and will host No. 7 Manitowoc Lutheran on Tuesday.
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck .
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Jayla Harter cementing status as 'one of the best' in Random Lake softball history
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