Saturday, January 25, 2025

Good Bye, Good Luck and Thank you to Payton Viles

Covering college sports allows me to meet many different folks I never would know. While I don't think of the players as friends, over the several seasons, I do develop rapport with the players. It's hard to see them leave after their college time. I can only imagine how much harder it is for coaches who have a much deeper friendship with the players.
I watched Payton Viles for her entire DePaul softball career. Payton played 52 games over four seasons (five if you count one game in the COVID shortened season). Payton's sister Brianna played for DePaul, as did her aunt. The California native was suded mainly off the bench, but she was a valued teammate. In one of her highlights, she tallied an RBI on Senior Day last season.
Payton was always good for a quick selfie after the game to help me with my coverage. She was always seemingly in a good mood, win or lose, play or not. That's the type of teammate everyone wants.
I probably won't see Payton this season, unless she visits DePaul. I might not see her again. Either way, she is part of the many pieces of DePaul softball that make up my several years of covering the team/
Thank you to DePaul for their hospitality all season. Go to DePaulBlueDemons.com for more info. Thank you and good luck always to Payton.
 Payton Viles and me in Chicago, IL-April 2022.

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