Current Louisiana freshman phenom and Spanish Fort High product Haley Hart has already added a career milestone to her collegiate softball career, earning 2026 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors after a breakout debut season with the Ragin' Cajuns.

Starting at second base for the Ragin' Cajuns softball, Hart was also named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after batting .369 and tying for the team lead with 55 hits. She is now the 11th player in program history to receive the league's top freshman honor and the second straight Louisiana player to claim the award, following teammate Emily Smith in 2025.

The former Toros standout made even more of an impact in conference play, posting 22 hits and 18 RBIs across 24 Sun Belt games while helping Louisiana remain near the top of the standings.

Hart's offensive production was paired with steady defense as she committed no errors while handling all 75 chances in the field this season with five outfield assists as well.

The freshman bursting onto the scene in Cajun Country comes as no surprise for those familiar with her prep career on the Eastern Shore.

Hart was one of Spanish Fort's most accomplished softball players, helping lead the Toros to four 6A Area 2 championships and a third-place state finish in 2023. She closed her high school career with 212 hits, 183 runs scored, 47 doubles, 14 triples, 27 home runs and 169 RBIs while batting .432. As a senior in 2025, Hart hit .472 with 58 hits, 42 RBIs and 18 stolen bases, earning all-county honors for the fifth consecutive season and her third straight 6A all-state selection.

The accolades for Hart also headline four All-Sun Belt selections for the Ragin' Cajuns, a showing that tied Louisiana for the most selections in the conference.

Louisiana will open play in the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Tournament this week against Troy at Lamson Park in Lafayette, Louisiana.