Outlook

Deja Gardenhire has always had a lot of potential to be a big-time hitter and the coaches are starting to see her transition that potential to more game-like scenarios ...  Also has put a lot work in the circle ... Signed a letter-of-intent with Avila University.

Sophomore Year 2024

Played 33 games, 22 as a starter … Batted .371 (23-for-62) with six doubles, a home run, 14 runs scored and eight runs driven in … Only struck out eight times … Produced six multiple-hit games and two multiple-RBI games … Made 13 appearances in the circle, two as a starter … Recorded two saves with seven strikeouts over 16.1 innings pitched … Singled for her first hit of the season and came around to score in an 11-7 win against Western Oklahoma State (2-10-24) …That started a season long five-game hitting streak … Singled, scored and stole three bases in a 21-0 win over Moberly Area (3-1-24) … Had a single and a double, scored twice and drove in a run in a 20-4 win over State Fair (3-2-24) … Followed with another 2-for-3 effort that included a double in a 14-0 win over Missouri State-West Plains (3-2-24) … Hit .500 over the streak (5-for-10) with two doubles, four runs and one RBI … Singled, walked and scord a run in a 16-13 win over Iowa Western (3-13-24) … Ripped two doubles, scored twice and drove in two runs in a 14-2 win over Independence (4-13-24) … Went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI in a 15-5 victory over Coffeyville (5-4-24) … Collected a season high three hits, highlighted by a two-run home run in the second inning to power JCCC toa 4-2 win over Kansas City Kanas in the Region 6 Tournament (5-9-24) … Had a single, a walk and scored a run in a 7-3 win over Central Alabama in the second round of the NJCAA World Series (5-22-24) … Made her pitching debut in the season opener with two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout in a 6-5 loss to Eastern Oklahoma State (2-9-24) … Pitched one inning of scoreless relief with two strikeouts to earn a save in a 5-1 victor over Barton (2-21-24) … Allowed one run with one strikeout over two innings in a 20-4 win against State Fair (3-2-24) … Faced three batters and struck out one to pick up her second save in a 12-11 win over North Iowa Area (3-14-24) … Hurled a perfect inning of relief with one strikeout in a 9-0 win over Allen (3-28-24) … Surrendered two hits and a run with one strikeout in an inning pitched in a 14-2 victory over Independence (4-13-24).

Freshman Year 2023  

Appeared in 13 games with five starts as a field player, and in nine games in relief as a pitcher … Batted .211 (4-for-19) with a double and three runs scored … Her first collegiate hit was a single in a 3-1 victory over Indian Hills (3-15-23) … Doubled and scored in an 8-5 loss to Southeast (3-25-23) … Ripped two singles and scored twice in an 11-9 setback at St. Louis (4-1-23) … Pitched a perfect inning in relief to earn a save in a 9-4 win over Iowa Central (3-5-23) … Hurled another perfect inning of relief with a strikeout in a 12-0 win over Iowa Western (3-22-23) … Logged a season high three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, off three hits in an 11-9 loss at St. Louis … Faced the minimum with a strikeout  in an inning of work in a 7-0 win at Coffeyville (5-1-23).

High School  

Was a two-year starter for coach Tara Griffith at Shawnee Heights High School, Tecumseh, Kan. … Earned All-United Kansas Conference first-team as a senior and honorable mention as a junior … Was a two-time All-Shawnee County second-team selection … Hit .578 with 37 hits, eight doubles, six home runs, 16 runs scored and 27 RBI … Also recorded 44 strikeouts in the circle … Helped the Thunderbirds win a 5A Regional title and advance to the State Tournament her junior year … Hit .467 with 21 hits, three doubles, two homers 10 runs and 13 RBI at the plate and had 21 strikeouts over 36.2 innings pitched. 

Personal  

Born Deja Yasmeen Gardenhire on November 9, 2003, in Topeka, Kan. … Nickname is D … Daughter of DeJuan and Junno Gardenhire … Has two siblings, Davion and DeJaun Jr. … Davion competed in track and field at Hutchinson Community College and DeJaun Jr., played football at Washburn University … Majoring in dental hygiene … Also recruited by Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Ottawa University … Favorite foods are tacos and queso … Favorite fast food restaurant is Chipotle … Favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse … Favorite TV show is The Vampire Diaries … Favorite sports movies are A League of Their Own and Creed … Favorite actress is Jennifer Lawrence … Favorite book is It Ends With Us … Favorite music entertainer is Beyoncé … Favorite cartoon character is Mickey Mouse … Favorite athlete is James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander …. Favorite sports team is the Kansas City Chiefs … Greatest sports moment is playing college softball … Best player she has played against is former Topeka High and current Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady … Notable alumni from her school are NFL cornerback Corey Ballentine, NFL defensive end Wyatt Hubert, former NFL linebacker Tom Dinkel and PGA golfer Gary Woodland.