Troy University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2019
One of the most prolific hitters in Troy softball history, Mitzi McLendon Hasty’s name is scattered throughout the Troy record book. Hasty terrorized opposing pitching for the Trojans from 1994 until 1997 and finished her career with 256 career hits, a record that stood until 2005 and currently stands second all-time.Â
“Mitzi was one of the most positive players I’ve ever played with,” teammate and Troy University Sports Hall of Fame inductee Sandy Atkins said.Â
“It didn’t matter what the situation or outcome, she was always there to support the team and her teammates. She was just a pure human being on and off the field. I’ve never heard her say one negative thing about anyone since I’ve known her. She has great ethics, great family, great work ethic and a great attitude.”
Hasty, a member of Troy’s first Division I team in 1994, was a three-time All-Mid Continent Conference First Team selection and led the Trojans to the 1996 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament title and the program’s first-ever berth into the NCAA Division I Tournament.Â
“She was the fastest player that I’ve ever played with,” Atkins said. “Some of us were making the transition from slowpitch to fastpitch, so that was an adjustment, but defensively she was one of the best. If it was hit in the air, it was caught.”
In the mid-90s the sport of softball underwent one of the greatest transitions in sports, switching an entire generation of players from slowpitch to fastpitch seemingly overnight. But Hasty’s incredible athleticism helped ease the conversion.
“One of the biggest keys to having success as athletes during that change was the grit and determination of our coach, Melanie Davis,” Atkins said. “It took some time offensively to adjust, but I really think that it was the coaching staff that instilled that mentality in her and the rest of the team. It was never a question of if you could do it. It was how consistently could you get it done.”
As Troy made the transition to Division I, the Trojans excelled nonetheless. A 40-13 finish in 1994 laid the foundation for the program for years to come. The next year, Troy won 52 games, a school record, a finished 24-4 at home and collected wins over Georgia Tech, Army, Maryland, Samford and Jacksonville State.
Hasty holds the school career record with 160 runs scored and 25 triples, she also posted a .344 career batting average, a mark that ranks third all-time. The Ashford, Alabama, native finished her career third all-time with 72 stolen bases.
“She had a very strong passion for the game, she loved playing softball,” Atkins said. “She continued to amaze me with her with her quickness and her reaction time. Her athleticism was obvious, but she made us all better with her attitude and work ethic. I don’t know of a coach in the country who wouldn’t want a player like Mitzi on their team.”
Hasty went on to work as a computer programmer at AAA Cooper Transportation for 12 years. For the past five years, she has served as an IT and Financial Assistant at Providence Christian School in Dothan, Alabama.
