Gainesville, FL

Haylee McCrea is this week's Tuesday Teammate of the Week!

McCrea enters her first playing season with Santa fe Softball in 2026 after taking a redshirt year with the Saints in 2025. The 5'7 catcher is from Orange Park, Florida and played at Ridgeview High School.

She hopes to help the Saints maintain their successes from 2025, taking over positions of need due to the Saints graduating many key contributors from last year's team. McCrea will look to get reps both in the infield and behind the plate, balancing her strong arm with a bat that can leave the yard if opposing pitchers are not careful. 

McCrea has been a noticeable leader for her teammates as the prepare to kick off the 2026 Softball season. She is someone who is always willing to help guide the younger players and has also been a great team player within the athletic department. She is pursuing a degree in Nursing and enjoys hunting and softball when she has free time. She was named 2024-25 Fall and Spring All-Saints Academic Team as well as 2024-25 FCSAA All-Academic. She played club for Santa Fe Inferno.

UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine sponsors a "Teammate of the Week" selection from all five Santa Fe Saints sports teams. The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), the SF sport specific coaches, and the athletic director nominate deserving Saints for this weekly award.  Teammates of the week will embody the character qualities the SAINTS (Seek, Aware, Integrity, Noble-Minded, Thankful, and Safe) emphasize and value.  SF Student-Athletes who impact their team, community, classmates, and families for the better are the best candidates for this weekly award hosted by proud SF partner UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.