New Iowa softball coach Stacy May-Johnson probably won’t have an easier commitment to land than Mount Vernon junior Hayden Gookin.

Gookin said the first day Iowa could reach out (Sept. 1) they did, and set up a visit for that week, on Friday. Gookin then committed on Saturday.

“I didn’t really need to go to other schools,” Gookin said. “Iowa is my dream school. I think any Hawkeye fan would want to go play for the Hawkeyes, if they had a chance.”

Iowa landed an all-state pitcher who can also hit a ton. As a sophomore, Gookin was 21-5 with a 0.95 ERA, a 0.77 WHIP and 249 strikeouts over 161.1 innings pitched.

She also hit .383 with 15 doubles, six home runs and 37 RBIs.

“They recruited me as a pitcher,” Gookin said. “But I want to hit in college, and it could hopefully be both.”

May-Johnson is looking to return the program to the heights it reached under Gayle Blevins, who qualified for the NCAA Regionals 16 times over 23 years and made the College World Series four times.

Since Blevins’ final year in 2010, Iowa has not qualified for NCAA Regionals.

“Coach (May-Johnson), her whole motto is ‘get the in-state talent,’” Gookin said. “Get the Iowa girls. It means more if you are from Iowa, playing for Iowa. She wants to get Iowa back to the legacy they were when she was there. That’s super cool.”