NEW MADISON – Tri-Village senior Hailey Burk has signed with Bluffton University to continue her softball career while pursuing a degree in nursing.
“I chose Bluffton because I thought the campus was great, the student life was great there, their culture was good,” Burk said. “Coach Paige Jansen is a really good person, and she is really influential. I am most looking forward to making new friends and getting started on my career because it is something I have always dreamed of — and then also playing college softball.”
Tri-Village head coach Emily Osborne praised Burk’s work ethic and leadership.
“It is great to see something that they work so hard for start to come into view as they’re finishing up their school year and looking forward to another year playing softball, doing the things they love,” Osborne said.
Burk, the daughter of Trisha and Kent Burk, was the starting catcher for the 30-0, 2025 State Champion Lady Patriots, playing every inning of every game — even while battling a hip injury.
“She caught in every single game that we played last year, knowing that she was having some hip issues,” Osborne noted. “She is still working toward getting better. Of course, she’s had some surgery in the offseason and is working to strengthen and be back and ready to go. She is super excited about this year.”
Travel coach Tyler Ballard, who has guided Burk for the past four seasons, echoed that optimism.
“Hailey is an amazing young lady,” Ballard said. “She has grown so much in the last four years, and Bluffton has a really good player coming to them. She’s going to recover from this hip surgery and be right back 100 percent — she’s going to be a real ballplayer for Bluffton.”
Through three varsity seasons, Burk has compiled a .415 batting average, including .446 her junior year with a .538 on-base percentage. Her totals include 93 hits, 71 RBI, 21 doubles, six triples, 10 home runs, and 50 stolen bases.
Tri-Village athletic director Brad Gray said Bluffton is gaining both a leader and a competitor.
“Hailey has had a great softball career and still has another year left,” Gray said. “Bluffton is getting a really good girl in terms of the person she is, but they’re also getting an absolute warrior behind the plate. She’s a stalwart for our program both behind the plate and at the bat — a real special player.”
Gray added that Burk’s success continues a strong tradition of Patriot athletes advancing to the next level.
“For our program as a whole, it’s always good to see when kids get an opportunity to continue to do this beyond high school,” he said. “It’s something special, and I love seeing our kids get those opportunities.”
Burk expressed heartfelt gratitude to those who helped her along the way.
“I want to thank my hitting coach, Bill Gray, I want to thank Tyler Ballard for helping me through the recruitment process,” she said. “I want to thank my dad for being here for me all the time, Shane Mead and Emily Osborne, my high school coaches, my teammates — and mostly I want to thank Jesus for bringing me here and letting me get to this point.”
