Benjamin Russell's Haylee Hunter wins Bryant-Jordan state achievement award

Brian Tannehill / Tallapoosa Publishers Benjamin Russell's Haylee Hunter puts the ball in play against Tallassee on Thursday.

Haylee Hunter has had to grow up fast.

With both parents struggling with drugs issues and her father being in and out of jail for most of her childhood, Hunter’s had to help raise her younger siblings. The Benjamin Russell senior has worked, gone to school full time and somehow still found improved her softball skills.

Lizi Arbogast is the sports editor at Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.