Willoughby commits to Ohio State
Parker Willoughby makes early decision following a vast array of campus visits.
By Greg Moore
Banner Sports Editor
Parker Willoughby, daughter of Travis and Ashley, from Morgantown, has committed to play her collegiate softball at Ohio State. A lifelong dream for Willoughby is beginning to materialize after much dedication and sacrifice. Many conversations with numerous coaches and visits to several different campuses, Willoughby chose Ohio State promptly following her second visit there this fall.
Willoughby has played travel softball since the age of five. For the last several years, she has been traveling all over the US to compete in showcase tournaments. At one event, one Power 5 college coach commented in Indianapolis at the Alliance Nationals of Parker, “I was walking to a game on the back field looking at my phone. I heard what I thought was a telephone pole snapping and looked up to see a ball leaving the park in a hurry; I knew I had to watch this girl play!”
Violent swinger as one coach said she is just different.
The 2026 product has seen her batting average steadily increase; although, her pitch selection has been more and more limited as she has progressed playing high school softball for Butler County since the 8th grade, in which Willoughby hit for a solid .425 average to lead the Lady Bears. As a freshman and sophomore, she continued pacing the team with robust .464 and .505 averages.
What is even more impressive, is the power surge when facing higher caliber pitching and not getting pitched around to some extent in high school play. Willoughby belted double-digit dingers over the past summer competing in showcase tournaments. Line Drive Softball, an analyst of top-college prospects in softball, ranked Willoughby 12th in the nation for the 2026 class.
