Stepping up to the plate, junior infielder Jade Hylton took a deep breath, re-velcroed both batting gloves and tapped her hand against her helmet before getting into her stance. Standing in the batter's box, Syracuse junior pitcher Madison Knight threw a first-pitch rise ball. Hylton timed her swing perfectly, taking the ball for a ride. Gradually standing up, everyone waited to see if the ball would go out, and the second it did, they erupted in cheers. Home run history.
After nearly two decades, the longstanding record had finally been broken.
Set by early 2000s utility player Sara Larquier, Virginia’s career home run record is one of the program’s most impressive accomplishments. Larquier, whose record was 35 home runs, is a Cavalier legend. She earned multiple All-ACC honors, set seven all-time school records — six of which she still holds — and became an All-American in 2004.
Larquier secured her spot in the halls of history, and now, so has Hylton — with 41 career home runs, barrelling ahead of Larquier’s total of 35.
“I’d really love to meet her,” Hylton said. “It’s really just an honor to be able to play behind people who have had that legacy.”
Like Larquier, Hylton is building a legacy herself. Since her freshman year, Hylton has started all 152 possible games — initially playing second base until moving to shortstop last season. She had the team’s highest batting average her freshman and sophomore year and the second-highest this year, only being beat out by sophomore infielder Bella Cabral by .001. Hylton has also earned several All-ACC honors and was even a 2024 NFCA All-Region First Team selection.
Now, Hylton gets to add the all-time home run record to her list of accolades, but she remains humble, giving all credit to the people around her.
“I have to give credit to my coaches and my teammates,” Hylton said. “I wouldn’t be here without them.”
From little league coaches, to travel and high school and Virginia’s Coach Joanna Hardin, Hylton has had a strong support system to get where she is. One of the people that has always been in her corner is an old friend — junior pitcher Eden Bigham — who has had a front row seat to Hylton’s successes.
Running in similar Virginia travel-ball circles it was inevitable that Bigham and Hylton would meet. The two first went head-to-head during 10-U and later joined forces when Hylton guest-played for Bigham’s team. When they reached high school, Hylton and Bigham both began to play for the showcase team, Williamsburg Starz, where they quickly became inseparable. Both now juniors and captains, the two get to cruise through the ACC with their historical dominance.
“We started doing a lot of showcase tournaments, and we haven’t looked back ever since,” Hylton said. “I’m not saying [she’s] why I chose here, but I was like ‘Oh yeah, we got this.’”
And Hylton’s “we got this” mentality is definitely reflective of the year Virginia has had. The Cavaliers have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in college softball. This team has skyrocketed through Hylton’s personal achievements and ending the regular season with one of their best records in recent years.
The offense has especially come alive this year. In addition to Hylton, several other players have had great offensive seasons, like Cabral, sophomore infielder Macee Eaton or senior outfielder Kelly Ayer, who were all above .300.
“We've got some big hitters and people that really do their jobs, and we really base our offense around selfless team winning softball, so just doing whatever jobs present at the moment when you're in the box,” Hylton said. “And I can't really give myself too much credit, because it's our whole offense.”
Looking ahead, Hylton has this year’s postseason and the entirety of her senior season to continue adding to her home run records — and further advance an already-stellar career.
“We've just really come out hot this year, and I hope that we can keep it up,” Hylton said.
The Cavaliers hope that they stay hot and make a deeper run than last year with the NCAA Regionals beginning Friday. However, with the spirit of playing every game like it is their last, and with hitters like Hylton in their lineup, a Super Regional appearance is definitely a possibility. But right now, that takes a backseat. Hylton remains in the moment, focusing on the now.
“[I’m] just taking it game by game, you know, keep tacking on, I'll be happy with it. Keep running that number up,” Hylton said. “So just keep going up there, doing my thing — just keeping it simple.”
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