Julian Rosa is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Cactus Shadows for AZPreps365.com

Junior phenom Payton Westra is one of the top softball prospects in the class of 2026. The Red Mountain High School star is already committed to the University of Oklahoma and still has two seasons to play.

Westra hit .475 last season with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs. She also stole 15 bases and maintained a .985 fielding percentage.

Her hard work on and off the field sets her apart from the rest. She is able to deliver in the toughest situations and always stands out.

"She has an unbelievable work ethic, and that’s what separates her from the rest," said Celeste Burns, the president of the Red Mountain Softball Booster Club. "She puts in the extra hours, and it shows every time she steps on the field."

Though Westra is already committed and has nothing more to prove, she always has her head towards a state title.

"My last two years, we put a lot of hard work onto the field as a team, and every single day we're just working towards that state title," Westra said. "This year, it's our first year with our brand new head coach Bree [Macha Peterson], and we're just really working hard for her and for each other."

She also understands how much it hurt to lose in years past, and lives with that every game.

"This year, we're just going to take that as a chip on our shoulder, focus on one game at a time, and just keep chipping away and run for state," she said.

Though an amazing player on the field, she also has the intangibles you can not teach. Coaches and teachers often speak about her leadership and ability to stay humble even in the spotlight.

"Other than her athletic ability, just off the field, she's the first one to go pick up a bucket, clean up the dugout, pick up a broom," Peterson said. "That speaks to the character of her."

Westra represented Team USA in the 2024 WBSC World Cup. She batted .533 with one home run, five RBIs, and seven runs scored, helping team U.S.A punch their ticket to the finals in Dallas this year. Analysts also rank Westra as the No. 41 overall player in the 2026 class.

Coach Peterson has also seen her growth through it all. From coming in as a freshman to the person she is now, you can see the difference.

"There’s this growth in her mindset, trying to not only perfect herself but also perfect the team around her," Peterson said. "She’s constantly coaching up the younger girls and really taking on that mentorship role."

Not only is Westra a star in the spring, she also is a star in the winter, playing varsity basketball and averaging a double-double in points and rebounds. She is doing what many young girls out there dream of.

"It's all about hard work, and if you really want to do it, it's possible," she said. "If you want to do both, you just have to put in the work every day, and the results will come."

Though she knows a lot about the game, she also learns a lot of valuable lessons while on the field. She believes that bonding with teammates is what leads to success.

"It really just comes down to always working hard, making sure your teammates and friends are always in a good space on and off the field," Westra said. "Being a good person is really what makes all of this possible."

Coach Peterson, who played at Arizona State, knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, and is able to relate to Payton in many ways.

"We just try to preach that these are going to be hard practices," Peterson said. "You're practicing every day, on weekends, we're in the weight room together. We pride ourselves on preparing them for the next level."

With her talent, work ethic, and personality, Westra has the potential to become a star in collegiate softball and all of her future endeavors.