“She shall strip her sleeves and show her scars and say these wounds I had. And the good story shall be told from mother to her daughter, for what shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we sisters. For she who sheds her blood with me today shall be my sister.” –From Henry V by William Shakespeare. (The gender language was changed for the purpose of this story)
Overcoming life’s obstacles is the best the human spirit can offer. It’s something Jaden Hurdle has become all too familiar with in her young life.
On Tuesday night, Hurdle sat down at a table inside the Orange High Library flanked by her mother Angie, whom Jaden calls her “personal cheerleader” and “best friend.” Angie isn’t hard to find in the summer. She’s the one sitting in the bleachers wearing a “proud to be her mother” tank top to her daughter’s games.
To Jaden’s left was her father, Ron, whom she called “her hero” that devoted endless hours of practice in their backyard batting cage.
Surrounding them was dozens of longtime friends, family and supporters from the Caldwell community, and throughout Orange County.
Hurdle formally signed with Patrick Henry Community College to play softball in Martinsville, VA, roughly 90 minutes from her home.
Trips to Virginia is second nature for the Hurdle family. Ron drove Jaden to Danville, twice a week, just so she could practice with her travel team through the last five years.
“Patrick Henry is getting a person of the highest character,” said Orange assistant principal Will Okun. “Jaden is somebody who treats people just how they want to be treated. She represents the best of what Orange High is and we’re excited to see what happens next.”
Some people, including Orange Coach Henry Horn, know Jaden only as “J.J.” It was a name that her aunt, Janice Hall, called her as an adolescent. Not even Janice can remember why she called her that to begin with, but it stuck.
“I want to thank my mom for being my personal cheerleader and being at every one of my games that she could come to,” Hurdle said. “She always had my favorite sacks at every tournament and made sure we had everything we needed.”
As the laughs blended in with the tears during the ceremony, there was no mistaking how much Jaden has overcome to reach the next phase of her life.
Over the course of four years, she’s tore her ACL twice, undergoing surgery again last summer. Hurdle started as a freshman first baseman for the 2017 state championship team, the only female squad to win a state title in Orange history.
She’s a three-time All-Big 8 Conference performer with a career batting average of .437. At Stanford Middle School, Hurdle was the team MVP twice. She was even the Orange “Ag Queen.”
Of course, in a perfect world, this wouldn’t have been the first time that Jaden would have been an instrumental part of a college signing ceremony.
But it isn’t a perfect world.
Her sister, Kacie, was a pitcher for Orange softball who was tragically killed in December 2012. As a tribute, she wears Kacie’s #14.
“She is the face of what adversity is and what it means to be resilient in life,” said Orange assistant coach Amber Palmer, who tried but failed to hold back tears at the podium. “There is no one more deserving of getting this experience than Jayden Hurdle.”
Because of her most recent surgery, Hurdle’s chances of playing again at Orange are up in the air. Her classmate, Grace Andrews, may take her spot at first base when the season starts in March.
That doesn’t mean she’s done with Orange softball.
Horn plans to have Hurdle around to help Orange’s younger players.
“It’s been an honor to coach you,” Horn said. “It’s going to be an honor to have you sit on a ball bucket beside me and prep you for college. We’re still going to let you swing a bat. Not in a game, but we’re going to prepare you for college because we owe that for you. You gave us so much more in return.”
Hurdle has a 3.9 grade point average. She is a member of the Link Crew, which supports freshmen starting out at Orange. She is also a member of the Future Farmers of America.
At the end of her speech, Hurdle remembered her biggest inspiration.
“I want to thank the coaches who gave me my opportunity to live my dream of being a college athlete and living the dream that my sister was never able to reach,” Hurdle said. “I played for her every time I stepped on the field and dedicate all my hard work to her.”