From a small T-ball field in North Carolina to earning national preseason recognition before her first regular season game as a Sun Devil, Mary Peyton Hodge’s journey to ASU has been a combination of grit, growth, and the kind of left-handed flair that gets batters guessing.
She may already be turning heads, but her softball story starts the same as most young kids: A T-ball flyer sent home from elementary school. Her parents signed her up without much expectation, but the game enthralled Mary Peyton and has never let her go.
“She loved it from the beginning,” her dad, Brian Hodge, said. “She’d always want to go outside and throw.”
Coach-pitch turned into all-stars. All-stars turned into travel ball. Before long, softball became the compass guiding the Hodge family all across the country. Brian estimates the game has carried them through nearly 15 states, whether for camps, tournaments or exposure events.
“My dad is my biggest supporter,” says Mary Peyton. “There was a hard time in fifth grade when I said I never wanted to pitch again. He really helped me push through it, and he’s been there to support me ever since."
Pitching left-handed meant opportunities early on, and soon she found herself excelling at every level and collecting accolades as if they were Halloween candy. At Oak Grove High School, she was:
- Named a three-time all-conference, all-district and all-state honoree
- Earned pitcher of the year honors in 2024 and 2025
- Named the 2025 Mid-Piedmont Female Athlete of the Year.
- Selected to the NFCA All-Region Second Team in 2024
- Named the North Carolina High School OT Pitcher of the Year.
“She’s tall, she’s left-handed, she has talent,” Brian said. “But things don’t necessarily come easily to her. Her work ethic is what separates her.
That work ethic is also what led Mary Peyton to the Birmingham Thunderbolts, one of the top travel organizations in the country. Mary Peyton helped the Thunderbolts reach podium finishes at PGF Nationals multiple times, including a first-place win in 2024.
Competing with the Thunderbolts elevated her game and placed her in front of elite college programs. Over four seasons at the 16U and 18U levels, she sharpened her skills against the best in the nation and set her sights firmly on playing at the collegiate level.
“Her dream was always to play in college,” Brian said. “That was the prize.”
"I played for a really hard coach and one of the hardest teams I could possibly play for,” Mary Peyton noted. “Coach Rocky (Thompson) really prepared me to know if I can survive that and all the camps I had to do, then I can survive college.”
Joining Sun Devil Softball
As she joins the Sun Devil softball family as a sports business major, Mary Peyton isn’t just a freshman with maximum potential; she’s already turning heads before her collegiate debut.
In the winter of 2025, Mary Peyton was selected to D1Softball’s prestigious D100 Freshman Watch List, marking her as one of just 10 players in the Big 12 Conference highlighted.
But she’s not feeling the pressure.
“It’s just giving me a chance to prove people wrong and show them what talents I have,” said Mary Peyton. “I’m ready to throw it at them and prove people wrong.”
Better yet, that confidence is backed up by a team that already feels like family.
"From the first time I came to campus, I just felt like there was something special here, and it came true the minute I stepped onto the field,” said Mary Peyton. "It’s everything. The weather, the players, the coaches, the environment. Everything feels like family. Even though I’m so far away from home, I don’t feel that far away at all.”
All in at Tempe
Mary Peyton enters Tempe already feeling part of something bigger. Her family watched nearly every Sun Devil game on ESPN+ long before she arrived, learning the roster, the culture and the expectations.
“If we’re in something, we’re all in,” Brian said. “Your child is your biggest investment.”
Now, that investment is wearing Maroon and Gold, and includes several cross-country trips.
"What’s funny is that someone from my family will be at every game," Mary Peyton noted. "My dad will be here opening weekend with my grandma. The next weekend, my mom will be here, then the next weekend it will be my mom’s family. Someone will always be here."
As an added cherry on top, the season schedule also includes a stop in North Carolina.
"I have a big fan base there, too,” Mary Peyton smiled.
A new chapter in the desert
Stepping onto the ASU campus brought both pride and peace of mind for her family. The orientation and support systems reassured them that Mary Peyton was in a place that values both her athletic and academic futures.
“You don’t want to leave your kid,” Brian said. “But seeing the resources and the people made us feel confident she’s in good hands.”
As she joins the Sun Devil softball family, Mary Peyton isn’t just a freshman with potential — she’s one already turning heads before her collegiate debut. With national recognition, deep travel ball experience, and a work ethic that’s been tested for years, the stage is set for a bright freshman year and a future full of innings pitched under the sun.
In fact, Mary Peyton already has a message for her opponents: "Watch out."
Follow Sun Devil Softball
For the latest information on the team, follow @SunDevilSoftball on X, Facebook, and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @TheSunDevils on X, Instagram and Facebook.
//////////////////////////////////////