Softball Player Profile Information

Fastpitch Softball
Player Profile

Claire Jenkins is pictured during competition at the Alabama High School state tournament-2015 (finished 4th in 6A division).

* LADY BEARCATS VARSITY SOFTBALL: .....[SCHEDULE]
[COACH: Stephanie Barlow-Conner] ...[EMAIL]

2016 Senior Season: ..... [VARSITY TEAM] [2]
.....Experience & Achievements:
* Varsity starter at short stop & lead-off batting
* Stats of 151 at bats & 54 games: Hit 15 home-runs, 69 total hits--21 doubles, 2 triples, 37 RBIs. BA .457, 35 BB. 61 runs scored. SLUG% .920 ...[1].
* THE TIMESÕ All-Area softball team/1st-team & Player of the Year 2016-[1] [2].
* Selected All-State/1st-team Òdesignated hitterÓ [1] & Class 6A Player of the Year.
* 2016 Class 6A High School Player of the Year accolades by the Alabama Sports Writers Association ...[1].
* Selected to the Super All-State Team/1st-team 2016 AL.com ...[1].
* Named PGF ÒAll-American High School Softball PlayerÓ and selected for the featured East-West Nationally televised game -[1] [2] [3] [4].
* Team finished 6A post-season tournaments: 1st place @ Area-[1] [2] [3], 1st place @ Regionals-[1] , & 4th @ State Championships-[1] [2] [3] .
* School-ball tournaments: (Feb.26-27 at Sokal Park) (March 4-5 at Spain Park) (March 21-23 at Gulf Shores-[1]
.....(April 1-2 at Bob Jones) (April 8-9 at Sumiton Christian Tournament in Jasper-[1]) (April 29-30 at Cullman Pre-State-[1])
.....[2016 SCHEDULE] -
.

2015 Junior Season: ..... [VARSITY TEAM] [2] [3] [4]
.....Experience & Achievements:
* Varsity starter to be used primarily short stop, pitching, & lead-off batting [1].
* Stats of 144 at bats & 51 games: Hit 15 home-runs, 68 total hits--16 doubles, 3 triples, 56 RBIs. BA .472, 20 BB, 27 steals. 61 runs scored. SLUG% .938 ...[1].
* Selected All-Area/1st-team & "2015 Player of the Year" [1].
* Selected All-State/1st-team Òshort-stopÓ by the Alabama Sports Writers Association 2015.
* Selected to the AHSAA North All-Star Team for the annual All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery [1] [2] [3].
* For the ÒAHSAA 6A State ChampionshipÓ, tournament performances earned a All-Tournament Team accolade. [1] [2]
* Selected to the Super All-State Team/1st-team Òdesignated hitterÓ 2015 AL.com.
* Team finished 6A post-season tournaments: 2nd place @ Area-[1] [2], 2nd @ Regionals-[1] [2] [3] [4] [5], & 4th @ State Championships-[1] [2] [3] [4].
* School-ball tournaments: (Feb.27-28 at Sokal Park-[1]) (March 6-7 at Spain Park-[1]) (March 23-26 at Gulf Shores-[1])
.....(April 3-4 at Bob Jones-[1] [2]) (April 10-11 at Sumiton-[1]) (April 24-25 at Cullman Pre-State)
.....[2015 SCHEDULE] - [CULLMAN TIMES PREP SPORTS REPORTS]
.

2014 Sophomore Season: ..... [VARSITY TEAM] [2]
.....Experience & Achievements:
* Varsity starter used primarily at center field, pitching, short stop, & lead-off batting [1].
* Stats out of 134 at bats: Hit 7 home-runs, 67 total hits--21 doubles, 5 triples, 55 RBIs. BA .500, 18 BB, 37 steals while caught only once. 44 runs scored. 25 bunt-for-hits-[1].
* Selected All-State/ 1st-team "utility player" by the Alabama Sports Writers Association [1].
* Selected All-Area/1st-team and "2014 Hitter of the Year" [1] [2].
* Team finished season 2nd place at 5A area tournament and advanced to regional tournament.
* School-ball tournaments: (Feb.21-22 at Sokal Park) (March 7-8 at Spain Park-[1] [2])
.....(March 14-15 at Oneonta-1st place finish [1] [2] [3]) (March 24-26 at Gulf Shores) (April 4-5 at Bob Jones [1]) (April 24-25 at Cullman Pre-State)
.....[2014 SCHEDULE]
* [CULLMAN TIMES PREP SPORTS REPORTS]
.

2013 Freshman Season: ..... [VARSITY TEAM] [2] [3]
.....Experience & Achievements:
* Varsity starter used primarily at short stop, pitching, & lead-off battng [1-2] [3]
* Hit three home-runs during the freshman season [1] [2] [3]
* Selected All-Area/1st-Team "utility player" [1].
* Team finished season 2nd place at 5A area tournament and then 3rd place at regional tournament -[1] [2].
* School-ball tournaments: (Feb.22-23 at Sokal Park-[1]) (March 1-2 at Spain Park-[1]) (March 25-27 at Gulf Shores) (April 5-6 at Bob Jones-[1]) (April 24-25 at Cullman Pre-State).
.....[PHOTO] [2] [3] [4] [1-2-3-4].
* [CULLMAN TIMES PREP SPORTS REPORTS]
.

Claire Jenkins is pictured during competition of Fall season 2014. .....I am extremely happy to announce
that I have been offered an opportunity to play college softball for the University of Alabama and I have verbally committed as of this January 2015. I want to extend a special thanks to all the coaches at Tennessee Tech, Troy University, University of South Alabama, Alabama-Huntsville, and all the others that have expressed interest in me as a softball prospect during the past few years. I am extremely grateful to all of you and I've been extremely blessed with many outstanding softball opportunities.

.....Thank you very much for visiting my profile. As you can see my name is Claire Jenkins and I attend Cullman High School where academic excellence has been a top priority for me. I enjoy advance placement classes and I am ranked among the top in my 2016 graduating class. Athletically, I now focus primarily on softball but I have enjoyed playing AAU basketball in the past and I was a member of a nationally ranked Southern Starz AAU basketball team. I have also played on the high school volleyball team. I love to play sports, and softball is my passion. My athletic goal is to play softball at college and I have been actively displaying my ability in front of college coaches whenever possible in an effort of earning that opportunity. I have participated in quite a few camps, clinics, college exposure, and showcase events and I have played travel tournament softball since a very young age. My most recent teams include Jack Kinney's Germantown Red Devils 16U and now I am a member of the Birmingham Thunderbolts-Premier for top-level 18U competition.

I love everything about softball, and I work extremely hard practically everyday in an effort to continually improve my skills and in keeping myself on top of my game for competition. Additionally, I frequently train at the ÔBolts training center in Birmingham and also with strength and agility coach Steve Johnson at his All Sports Performance Training facility here in Cullman. .....[PHOTO] [2] [3] [4]

Above, I have included links to video footage that might help demonstrate my potential playing softball while listed below are additional softball experiences--my most recent to some at my younger ages. Photos are included along with lots of links to additional photos--some in action and some not. It's my hope that those interested can find enough information to help determine my potential as a softball player.

I have an older sister, Jennifer Jenkins, whom is an athlete as well. Watching Jennifer play, and practicing with her, has greatly helped my progress throughout the years. Jennifer is into her college softball journey at Auburn University-Montgomery where her team was able to capture Òback-to-backÓ NAIA College Softball World Series National Championship titles for 2014 [PHOTO] [2] and 2015 [PHOTO] [2] [3]. My parents are Martha & Rodney Jenkins ...[EMAIL]. .....Thanks again, Claire (Oct-2015).

Come see me now .....beginning the Fall of 2016, IÕm at the University of Alabama into my college softball journey with the Crimson Tide. .....[ALABAMA SOFTBALL].

Claire Jenkins pictured stepping in to bat at the PGF Fall Shootout during the Huntington Beach, California tournament of Fall 2015.

SOFTBALL EXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS - PREMIER: 18u premier events

.....[TEAM] [PHOTO]
Coach: Richard Shea .....[EMAIL] [SCHEDULE]

My Events Schedule & Accomplishments:
July 29, 2016 PGF High School ALL-American Game at Bill Barber Stadium in Irvine,CA. ...[PHOTO] [2] [3] [4]
July 23-29, 2016 PGF 18U National Championships in Huntington Beach,CA. ...[PHOTO] [2] [3rd PLACE]
July 6-10, 2016 DeMarini Invitational in Chicago,IL.
June 28-July 3, 2016 Independence Day Tournament in Longmont,CO. ...[PHOTO]
June 17-19, 2016 SoCal Invitational in Huntington Beach,CA. ...[PHOTO] [TEAM]
June 10-12, 2016 D-9 Sun Classic at Wide-World-Sports Complex-Orlando,FL.
June 6-9 & 14-16, 2016 Thunderbolts Camp Écontinued in Birmingham,AL. [PHOTO]
June 3-5, 2016 Thunderbolts Invitational in Birmingham,AL. [PHOTO] [2]
May 30 - June 2, 2016 Thunderbolts Camp in Birmingham,AL. [PHOTO]
January 24, 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide Hitting Clinic in Tuscaloosa,AL.
Oct.30-Nov. 1, 2015 D-9 Sun Classic at Wide-World-Sports Complex-Orlando,FL. [PHOTO]
October 24-25, 2015 Thunderbolts Fall Friendly in Birmingham,AL.
October 20, 2015 FLO SOFTBALL named Hot 100 2016Õs nationally. ...[PHOTO]
October 16-18, 2015 PGF Fall Shootout in Huntington Beach,CA. ...[PHOTO] [2] [3]
October 9-11, 2015 Thunderbolts Fall Camp in Birmingham,AL. ...[PHOTO]

GERMANTOWN RED DEVILS 16U: .....[PHOTO] [TEAM] [2] [TEAM2]
.....For 16-18u events during Summer 2015 back thru Fall 2013 ...w/Coach Jack Kinney
July 26-31, 2015 ASA A National Championships in Chattanooga,TN. ...[PHOTO] [2]
July 17-19, 2015 Atlanta Legacy in Atlanta,GA.
July 9-12, 2015 DeMarini Invitational Showcase in Chicago,IL.
June 28-July 5, 2015 Independence Day Tournament in Longmont,CO. ...[PHOTO] [2] [3] [4]
June 19-21, 2015 Germantown Invitational Tournament in Germantown,TN. ...[TEAM]
June 18, 2015 DH Invitational Friendly in Germantown,TN.
June 5-7, 2015 Tulsa Elite Invitational in Tulsa,OK. ...[PHOTO -2 -3] [TEAM]
May 29-31, 2015 Qualified for ASA A Nationals in Hammond,LA. ...[TEAM]
May 23-25, 2015 Germantown Memorial Day Tournament in Germantown,TN. ...[TEAM]
January 24, 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide Hitting & Fielding Clinics in Tuscaloosa,AL.
January 19, 2015 University of Troy Hitting Camp in Troy,AL.
January 18, 2015 Samford University All-Skills Camp in Birmingham,AL.
December 28-29, 2014 Tennessee Tech Mini Camp in Cookville,TN.
November 17, 2014 University of Alabama High Intensity Hitting Clinic in Tuscaloosa,AL.
November 15-16, 2014 Southern Force Alabama Belles Showcase-Cullman,AL.
November 7-9, 2014 Southern Force Fall Showcase-Watkinsville,GA. ...[TEAM] [2]
October 24-26, 2014 DeMarini Elite Showcase-O'Fallon,IL.
October 18-19, 2014 Rocket City Showcase-Huntsville,AL. ...[PHOTO] [2] [3] [4]
September 20, 2014 Lipscomb University Elite Fall Camp -Nashville,TN.
September 13, 2014 USA Elite Hitting Camp -Mobile,AL.
August 23-24, 2014 Advanced Fastpitch Camp-Chattanooga,TN.
August 16, 2014 Snead State Hitting Camp with Coach Tracy Grindrod-Boaz,AL.

Claire Jenkins with Germantown Red Devils 16u in Huntington Beach,CA. during summer of 2014

July 19-25, 2014 PGF 16U National Championships- Huntington Beach,CA. ...[TEAM] [2] [3]
July 14-15, 2014 University of Ole Miss Hitting & Defense Camps-Oxford,MS.
July 12, 2014 Round-Robin at Lipscomb University-Nashville,TN. ...[PHOTO]
June 29-July 6, 2014 Independance Day Tournament- Boulder,Colorado. ...[TEAM] [2] [3]
June 20-22, 2014 Champions Elite Showcase-Cummings,GA.
June 17-18, 2014 University of South Alabama Summer Fundamentals Camp in Mobile,AL.
June 12-15, 2014 Germantown Invitational in Memphis,TN. ...[TEAM]
June 5-8, 2014 Tulsa Elite Invitational-Tulsa,OK.
May 24-26, 2014 Germantown Memorial Day Tournament-Germantown,TN. ...[TEAM] [HR CLUB]
.....Claire uses her crafty quickness to dodge past a waiting tag at home plate [PHOTO]-[2]-[3].
January 20, 2014 UAB Hitting Clinic in Pelham,AL.
January 18, 2014 University of Alabama Hitting & Infield Clinics-Tuscaloosa,AL.
January 11, 2014 MSU Hitting & Defense Winter Clinics-Mississippi State University
January 5, 2014 Advanced FP Skills Clinic-Chattanooga,TN.
.....w/Tim Walton,Rachel Lawson,& Mike Stith
(Video 1of1)-[JANUARY 2014 HITTING VIDEO]
December 27-30, 2013 University of Auburn Softball All-Skills Camp-Auburn,AL.
December 1st, 2013 University of Alabama-Huntsville Elite Camp-Huntsville,AL.
November 22-24 University of South Alabama Skills Camps-Mobile,AL.
November 8-10, 2013 Southern Force Elite-Watkinsville,GA. ...[TEAM]
October 25-27, 2013 DeMarini Fall Showcase-O'Fallon,IL.
October 19-20, 2013 Rocket City Elite Showcase-Huntsville,AL....[PHOTO] [2] [3] [4]
October 13, 2013 University of Central Arkansas- R-Robin play day ...[PHOTO]
October 12, 2013 University of Memphis- R-Robin play day...[PHOTO]
September 29, 2013 Middle Tennessee State University- R-Robin ...[TEAM] [2] [3]

September 23 & 30, 2013 University of Auburn - Hitting Camp
September 21, 2013 University of Auburn - All-Skills Camp
August 10, 2013 Southeastern Showcase in Hanceville,AL.
July 27-1, 2013 ASA A Nationals - Salem,VA.
July 22-25, 2013 Battle of Bayou(AAU Basketball) in New Orleans,LA.
July 19-21, 2013 Atlanta Legacy - Atlanta,GA.
July 12-14, 2013 ASA Alabama State - Tuscaloosa,AL.
July 5-11, 2013 National Super Showcase(AAU Basketball) in Orlando,FL.
June 21-23, 2013 ASA Regional Qualifier - Auburn,AL.
June 16-19, 2013 University of Alabama Summer Camp - Tuscaloosa,AL.
June 14-16, 2013 "Scenic City Showcase" in Chattanooga,TN.
June 12-13, 2013 UAB Hitting Camp in Birmingham,AL.
June 11, 2013 Gateway to the Next Level softball camp in Birmingham, AL.
June 7-9, 2013 "Southeastern Exposure Tournament" in Vestavia,AL.
(Video 1of1)-[JUNE 2013 FIELDING VIDEO]
(Video 1of1)-[JUNE 2013 HITTING VIDEO]
May 24-26, 2013 "Vipers Memorial Day Classic" - Liberty Park
January 26-27, 2013 Ole Miss Softball Camp in Oxford,MS.
.....Hitting & Defensive Skills Camps ...[PHOTO][2]...[1][2][3]...[1][2]
January 21, 2013 UAB Hitting Clinic in Pelham,AL.
January 5-6, 2013 College Softball Camp in Covington,LA. [PHOTO]...[1][2][3]
(Video 1of1)-[JANUARY 2013 HITTING VIDEO]
(Video 1of1)-[JANUARY 2013 FIELDING VIDEO]

December 15-16, 2012 - University of Tennessee Camp in Knoxville
December 8-9, 2012 - Ole Miss Softball Camp in Oxford,MS.
.....Bunt/Slap/Speed & Defensive Position-play Camps [PHOTO][2][3]
November 17-18, 2012 - Southern Force "Southern Belle" Showcase-Trussville,AL
November 2-4, 2012 - "Scenic City Fall Showcase" in Chattanooga,TN.
October 27-28, 2012 - USFA 14u Fall World Series - Fultondale,AL. ...[TEAM]
October 20-21, 2012 - USFA Fall World Series 18u - Cullman,AL. ........[TEAM]
October 5, 2012 - Alabama Pitching & Hitting Clinic w/coach Stephanie VanBrakle @ Spain Park
September 23, 2012 - UNA Elite Skills Showcase in Florence,AL.
September 2-3, 2012 - Advanced FP Skills Camp in Chattanooga,TN.
August 2012 - earned bid to ASA A Nationals in Sioux Falls, S.D.
July 2012 - "ASA A State" in Dothan,AL.
June 2012 - "ASA Sports Festival" in Pell City,AL.
June 25-26, 2012 - Troy University "Prospect Evaluation" Camp Troy,AL.
June 15-17, 2012 - 30th Annual Germantown Invitational - Germantown,TN. ...[TEAM]
June 8-10, 2012 - Worth Fastpitch June Classic 16/18u - Franklin,TN.
1st place defeating Nashville Nighthawks '95 (16 teams)...[TEAM]
May 28-29, 2012 - "Vipers Memorial Day Classic" - in Vestavia,AL.
(Video 1of2)-[JUNE 2012 PERSONAL PRACTICE]
(Video 2of2)-[JUNE 2012 PERSONAL PRACTICE]

May 19-20, 2012 - "Tennessee Elite Invitational" in Nashville,TN.
January 7, 2012 - Auburn University-Montgomery "Hitting Clinic" in Alabaster,AL.
December 17, 2011 - "Auburn Hitting Clinic" in Birmingham (w/Coach Ryals)
December 14, 2011 - "University of South AL." Pre-Season Camp in Mobile,AL
December 10, 2011 - Mississippi State/Marion Military "Hitting Clinic"
.....with coaches Alan Reach & Joe Guthrie in Alabaster,AL.
November 19-20, 2011 - "Troy University Evaluation Camp" Troy,AL.
November 11-13, 2011 - USFA 14U Fall World Series - Vestavia,AL. ...[TEAM]
November 5, 2011 - "ASA Big Cat Finale 16u" in Hoover,AL.
October 29-30, 2011 - Thunderbolts "Fall Friendly" Irondale,AL.
October 21-23, 2011 - ASA "Hall of Fame" Qualifier 16u - Auburn,AL.
October 8-9, 2011 - "ASA Annual Spooktacular" in Montgomery,AL.
August 24, 2011 - Position Advanced Skills Clinic in Huntsville,AL.
.....w/Jose Garcia & Tyler Sadler

July 31-August 7, 2011 - 12U ASA A NATIONALS in Montgomery,AL. [PHOTO]
July 23, 2011 - NSA Chelsea Classic ...[TEAM]
July 8-10, 2011 - ASA A State Tournament - Tuscaloosa,AL.
June 24-26, 2011 - ASA Regional Qualifier/Alabama Sports Festival - Pell City,AL.
June 11-12, 2011 - ASA National Qualifier - Tallahassee, FL.
June 3-5, 2011 - USA/ASA National Qualifier - in Orlando,FL.
.....ESPN Rise Showcase at Walt Disney World's "Wide World of Sports"
May 27-29, 2011 - Birmingham Viper Memorial Day Classic - Vestavia,AL.
May 21-22, 2011 - Mustangs "Best of the Best" - Trussville, AL.
May 14-15, 2011 - ASA Regional Qualifier - Jacksonville, FL.
November 13-14, 2010 - USFA Fall World Series - Vestavia,AL.
October 23-24, 2010 - Birmingham Viper Holloween 14u - Vestavia,AL.
October 16, 2010 - ASA Strike Zone "Fright Fest" 14u - Clanton,AL.
October 9th 2010 - Mississippi USFA in Gulfport,MS - ...[TEAM]

September 25-26, 2010 - Franklin 7-Game Friendly in Franklin,TN. .....as Thunderbolts'98
August 2010 - Birmingham Thunderbolts'98 - Irondale,AL.
.....Core team members & coaches move to B'ham Thunderbolts organization.
August 2-8, 2010 - 12U ASA A NATIONALS in Bloomington,IN. [TEAM] [TEAM]
July 9-11, 2010 - ASA State - Auburn,AL.
July 2-4, 2010 - NSA State - Liberty Park, AL.
June 19-20, 2010 - ASA Regional Qualifier/Alabama Sports Festival - Hoover,AL.
June 11-13, 2010 - Sokal Park Event - Tuscaloosa,AL. [TEAM]
June 4-6, 2010 - ASA National Qualifyer - Montgomery, AL.
May 28-30, 2010 - Birmingham Viper Memorial Day Classic - Liberty Park,AL.
May 14-15, 2010 - Mustangs "Best of the Best" - Anniston, AL.
April 30-1, 2010 - NSA Event - Cullman, AL. [TEAM]
April 16-18, 2010 - Carrollton Classic - Carrollton,GA.
March 26-28, 2010- King of the Mountain - Peachtree City,GA. [TEAM]
March 19-20, 2010 - Mustangs Stampede - Fultondale,AL.
March 7-8, 2010 - Turf Wars II - Hoover,AL. [TEAM]
November 13-15, 2009 - USFA Fall World Series - Vestavia,AL.
October 24-25, 2009 - Birmingham Viper Holloween - Vestavia,AL.
October 17-18, 2009 - NSA Rebel Yell - Fultondale,AL.
October 2, 2009 - NSA-CGSA Alabama Fall Rage - Cullman,AL.
September 26, 2009 - USSSA Fall State - Cullman,AL.
September 19, 2009 - ASA Strike Zone Freedom Fest - Thorsby,AL.
September 5, 2009 - NSA Big Cat Kick-off - Hoover,AL. [TEAM]

July 26- August 2, 2009 - ASA A NATIONALS - Johnson City,TN. [TEAM]
July 10-12, 2009 - NSA State Tournament - Liberty Park,AL.
June 27-28, 2009 - USFA State - Cullman,AL. [TEAM]
June 19-21, 2010 - ASA Alabama Sports Festival - Hoover,AL.
June 5-7, 2009 - ASA Qualifier-Capital City - Tallahassee,FL.
May 30, 2009 - ASA Bama Babes Memorial Day Classic - Millbrook,AL.
May 22-24, 2009 - Vipers Memorial Day Tournament - Spain Park,AL.
May 9, 2009 - USFA Herritage Park - Cullman,AL.
April 18, 2009 - Cowart Park - Athens,AL. [TEAM]
April 3-5, 2009 - Carrollton Classic - Carrollton,GA. [TEAM]
March 21-22, 2009 - Trussville Friendly - Trussville,AL. [TEAM]
March 6-7, 2009 - Hueytown Purple/Gold Classic - Hueytown,AL. [TEAM]
December 4, 2008 - University of Alabama - team workout at Viper Center
.....with coaches Vann Stuedeman and Alyson Habetz.
October 18-19, 2008 - Franklin Fall Frenzy III - Franklin,TN.
September 27-28, 2008 - USFA Athens - Athens,AL. [TEAM]
September 19-20, 2008 - USFA Fall Championships - Cullman,AL.
June 13-14, 2008 - USFA Fathers Day Classic [TEAM] - Athens,AL.

August 2-8, 2008 - 12U ASA A NATIONALS in Bloomington,IN. [TEAM] [PHOTO] [2]
July 20, 2008 - Nationals Bound- (GA & AL teams) - play day in Oxford,AL.
June 22-23, 2008 - USFA State - Gadsden,AL.
June 8, 2008 - ASA National Qualifyer - Tallahassee,FL. [TEAM]
May 30-June 2, 2008 - ASA National Qualifier - Ridgeland,MS.
May 23-25, 2008 - Viper Memorial Day Classic - Liberty Park, AL. [TEAM]
May 16-17, 2008 - May Frenzy - Huntsville,AL. [TEAM]
May 3, 2008 - Skyhawks Tournament - Trussville, AL.
April 19-20, 2008 - NSA Bandits Shootout - Columbiana,AL. [TEAM]
April 15, 2010 - USA Olympic Game-(Team USA vrs. Alabama) at Liberty Park,AL.
April 12-13, 2008 - Athens Friendly - Athens,AL.
March 28-30, 2008- King of the Mountain Peachtree City,GA.
March 14-15, 2008 - Twister Watch 4 - Helena,AL. [TEAM]
February 30, 2008 - Let's Get it Started! - Madison,AL.
February 23, 2008 - Spain Park Vestavia,AL. [TEAM]
January 21, 2008 - UAB Hitting Clinic-Marla Townsend at Viper Dome in Hoover.
November 10-11, 2007 - NSA Fall Championship - Helena,AL.
October 27-28, 2007 - B'ham Viper Holloween Classic - Liberty Park,AL. [TEAM]
October 13, 2007 - Chattanooga Classic - Chattanooga,TN.
September 29, 2007 - Carrollton Classic - Carrollton,GA.
September 15-16, 2007 - ASA - Clanton,AL. [TEAM]
September 1, 2007 - NSA Big Cat Kick-off - Hoover,AL.

Please follow www.ClaireJenkins for additional information and pictures.

CULLMAN TIMES PREP SOFTBALL SPORTS REPORTS

11-13-2015: ____UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: Thursday afternoon was a long time coming for Claire Jenkins. Literally.
.....Surrounded by family, friends, teammates and coaches, the Cullman standout inked a National Letter of Intent to attend and play softball for the University of Alabama. Jenkins, who committed to the Southeastern Conference program back in January 2014, never once wavered her commitment despite a rash of offers from other top schools such as Tennessee Tech, Troy and UAH. Now that it's official, she couldn't be happier. "It's just so exciting that it's finally set in stone," the Bearcat senior said. "It makes it seem so close to being down there and being able to play college ball. "Before Jenkins switches from Black and Gold to Crimson and White, however, she'll look to turn in one more spectacular campaign with her Class 6A squad. Hard to imagine it getting much better. Last season, the power hitter batted .425 with a .491 on-base percentage and .849 slugging percentage to help Cullman qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 2009. She collected 15 home runs Ñ second in 6A Ñ 62 hits, 15 doubles and 54 RBIs. Jenkins recorded five homers, 15 base knocks and 20 RBIs during her squad's regional and state contests en route to her second-straight All-State selection at shortstop. All in all, a dream player for every softball program. Just ask Black and Gold coach Stephanie Barlow, who's watched Jenkins grow from a promising freshman to a potentially dominant senior. "When Alabama's coach emailed me about Claire, I just told him what a gem she is," Barlow said. "She's been striving for this since the day I met her. She has a great attitude and she'll work her tail off for you. I couldn't be happier or more proud of her." As for Jenkins, her decision to stick with the Crimson Tide wasn't one that required too much thought. Citing a "family feel" and a campus that's "wonderful," the signee didn't even need to take her full allotment of official visits to other schools. "The team was very welcoming, and I just loved everything that I saw," she said. While Jenkins loves her future team, it's her current squad she'll be playing her heart out for when spring rolls around. Having come up just short of a state title last May, the Bearcats are more motivated than ever to return to Lagoon Park and settle a little unfinished business. Whether or not their quest has a happy ending remains to be seen. Either way, Jenkins can't wait to get started. "It's our fourth year playing together," she said. "We've gotten stronger every year, and we're inseparable now. We want to get back there and win a state championship." Pictured above is Claire Jenkins (left center) while flashing a mile-wide grin after signing a National Letter of Intent to attend and play softball for the University of Alabama. Joining her is sister Jennifer (left) and parents Martha and Rodney.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
6-18-2015: ____THE CULLMAN TIMES' 2015 ALL-AREA SOFTBALL TEAM: Jenkins spearheads Cullman-heavy quartet as Player of the Year
.....Claire-ly the Best, --Cullman's Claire Jenkins is The Cullman Times' 2015 All-Area Softball Player of the Year. Cold Springs' Rilee White, Cullman's Olivia Schwaiger and Culman's Stephanie Barlow picked up the other respective top prizes as Hitter, Pitcher and Coach of the Year. The scouting report on Claire Jenkins is pretty simple: The Cullman standout has easy power, a sublime eye for the strike zone, a passion for softball and a wonderful swing that makes opposing coaches both cringe and drool when its magic is uncorked at the plate. Tremendous attributes? Certainly. Good enough to take home The Times' 2015 Player of the Year accolade? Without question. Jenkins collected the spring's top honor, while Cold Springs' Rilee White and Cullman?s Olivia Schwaiger supplemented their amazing seasons with respective Hitter and Pitcher of the Year selections. The Black and Gold's Stephanie Barlow garnered Coach of the Year after the Bearcats' 33-18 season, which saw them finish as one of the last four Class 6A squads standing following a tenacious showing at the state tournament in Montgomery. Jenkins played a large part in that success. The Alabama commit batted .425 with a .491 on-base percentage and an exemplary .849 slugging percentage. She cranked 15 home runs - one off the 6A lead - and corralled 62 hits, 15 doubles and 54 RBIs. In her teams eight bouts between the regional and state tournaments, the junior busted out in a fine way with six homers, 15 hits and 20 RBIs - including a walk-off, two-run dinger to lift Cullman over Muscle Shoals in a must-win situation.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
6-5-2015: _____2015 ALL-STATE SOFTBALL TEAM: Cullman's Jenkins, West Point's Elam, Cold Springs' White earn 1st-team honors:
.....It's been said that good things come in threes. With the late Friday release of the Alabama Sports Writers Association's All-State Softball Team, that couldn't ring more true for Cullman County. Class 6A Cullman's Claire Jenkins, 5A West Point's Karra Elam and 2A Cold Springs' Rilee White were rewarded for excellent seasons with first-team selections. Jenkins tallied her second straight first-team honor at shortstop, while Elam and White earned their coveted spots at designated hitter and first base, respectively. Cullman's Olivia Schwaiger (pitcher), Cold Springs' Taylor Payne (catcher), Good Hope's Josie McDonald (designated hitter) and Addison's Ragen Yarbrough (pitcher) rounded out local representation with second-team accolades. To say Jenkins had a coming out party during her junior campaign isn't quite accurate. An offensive explosion fits the bill better. The Alabama commit batted .425 with a .491 on-base percentage and .849 slugging percentage. She blasted 15 home runs - most among 6A shortstops and only one off the class leader - and collected 62 hits, 15 doubles and 54 RBIs for the Lady Bearcats, who returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2009. She saved her best for the team's playoff run, contributing five homers, 15 hits and 20 RBIs in the Black and Gold's eight combined bouts during regional and state play.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
5-16-2015: _____STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT: Cullman dismantles Chelsea 17-2, advances to play Daphne:
.....MONTGOMERY,AL - Cullman's bats had no problem adjusting to the early-morning hours. The Bearcats exploded for 18 hits, including a pair of three-run homers from Claire Jenkins and Sierra Easterwood, to soundly eliminate Chelsea 17-2 in six innings at Lagoon Park during Saturday's Class 6A state tournament. Easterwood (three hits, five RBIs), Olivia Schwaiger (two hits, three RBIs) and Jenkins (four runs, four RBIs) led the way on offense for No. 8 Cullman, which moved to 33-17. Other contributors were Kaitlyn Brannon and McKensi Burks, three hits apiece; Taiya Ponder and Tiffani Schwaiger, two each; and Elli Dixon and Hannah Morton, one single apiece. Stephanie Barlow's squad broke the game wide open in the sixth inning, sending 14 batters to the plate for nine hits and nine runs. Cullman will play Daphne around noon. Check back for more updates.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
5-9-2015: _____REGIONAL SOFTBALL: Seven-run 7th lifts Lady Bearcats to 1st state tourney appearance since 2009:
.....Make room, Montgomery. Cullman's baseball and softball squads are heading to the Capitol City. The Lady Bearcats went wild on offense when everything was on the line, erupting for seven runs on eight hits in the seventh inning of a 14-8 triumph over Athens Saturday at the Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex. The No. 8 Black and Gold opened Day 2 of the Class 6A North Regional Tournament with a 3-0 loss to top-ranked Southside-Gadsden but weathered every storm in the elimination-bracket final that ensued to earn a spot at next week's state tournament. Claire Jenkins, the hero of Friday night's nine-inning battle against Muscle Shoals, came just short of another potential game-winner in Saturday's first tilt. The Alabama commit more than made up for it in the clincher, though, crushing a three-run homer in the fourth and a no-doubt grand slam in the decisive seventh. Sierra Easterwood followed the latter with a solo shot for the third in a string of five straight hits - Taiya Ponder, Elli Dixon and McKensi Burks also contributed to the streak - making Cyndra Graves' game-tying three-run blast for No. 9 Athens in the bottom half of the sixth nothing more than a distant memory. Same goes for Cullman's lofty sum in the error column that made for a rather anxiety-ridden Saturday. But hey, nothing a state berth - the program's first since 2009 - can't fix. That was all the Lady Bearcats had on their minds as they dogpiled in the infield and stayed in the vicinity for ever photo opportunity imaginable with their hardware, teammates, relatives and friends. "Oh. My. Gosh. That was awesome," Cullman coach Stephanie Barlow said. "That's the team they've started becoming - that last-inning, punch-it-until-we-make-it kind of team. It's big when you can do that, when you don't let a three-run home run get you down, or all those errors. "These haven't been our best two defensive games, but they overcame all that. It's like there was no other choice. They had to get it done." Jenkins' two home runs and seven RBIs in the finale capped off a sterling tournament. In four games, the junior went 8 for 18 with a double, three home runs and 13 RBIs. Not a bad two day's worth of work, especially considering the payoff. "It's amazing. We've all dreamed of going to state, and now we get to," Jenkins said. "We definitely want to compete there, and we are definitely wanting to win a state championship." Ponder proved to be another crucial piece to the offensive puzzle, finishing the bout with Athens a perfect 4 for 4 and the day 5 for 6 with an RBI. The center fielder also cinched her latest assist early against Southside, placing the throw home right where Dixon could catch it and tag the runner out just in the nick of time. Excited didn't even begin to explain Ponder's demeanor following the thriller. Downright giddy was more like it. "This is fantastic. It's like a dream come true, actually," she said. "KB (Kaitlyn Brannon), I'm doing it for her. It's her senior year. All she wants is to win state, and we definitely have the ability to come out and be great." By far the best storyline down the stretch in the second game was Easterwood's solo home run ? not because of how far it traveled, or even because of the five-run cushion it created. Rather, the most impressive aspect of the long ball was that the sophomore sent it into orbit a mere four innings after taking a hard foul ball from Jenkins' in the ribs. Easterwood immediately went down in obvious pain in the on-deck circle but, after a few minutes, was laughing, up on her feet and ready to return to play. Barlow sure was glad the youngster toughed it out, too. "That just was the nail in the coffin," she said of Easterwood's homer. "You could see that the wind was out of their sails." Jenkins paused a raucous celebration just long enough to express remorse for her part in the unfortunate sequence. "I felt so bad," she said. "That had to hurt." Cullman didn't lack contributors at the plate versus Athens. Dixon (two RBIs) and Olivia Schwaiger (double and RBI) were each good for three hits, while Burks (two RBIs) joined Jenkins in the two-hit club. Hannah Morton and Tiffani Schwaiger both added one. Kennedy Wren showed range on a couple of catches in right field. Olivia Schwaiger logged all 14 innings Saturday to round out her regional total at 30. She scattered two strikeouts, eight hits, zero walks and three runs (all unearned) over the first seven frames and one K, one walk, 13 hits and seven runs (five earned) over the second seven. Southside's Claire Graves fanned 14 in a two-hit shutout. Schwaiger enters the state tournament 23-10. The Lady 'Cats, meanwhile, take a 31-16 record into a first-round matchup against No. 6 Saraland, the South regional champ, next Friday at noon at Lagoon Park. Four hours later, the Black and Gold's baseball counterparts, will open their state championship series against Pelham over at Paterson Field. Barlow and Ponder had a simple solution for fans and spectators who might be on the fence about which sport to support: Don't choose one. Get behind - and attend - both. "I think the girls are most excited because baseball always goes to state, and now they're starting to set their legacy up that softball is, too," Barlow said. "We get a lot of support for the most part, but we still want those big turnouts. I mean, we're on the rise. This is only the beginning for us."
.....Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 138 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.
5-8-2015: _____REGIONAL SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Jenkins' walk-off puts 'Cats 1 win from state:
.....HUNTSVILLE,AL - When Cullman's softball team needed a boost late in Friday's North Regional Tournament, Claire Jenkins came to the rescue. The Bearcat junior hammered a walk-off, two-run homer in the ninth inning to stun Muscle Shoals in a 2-1 victory at Huntsville's Sportsplex. Cullman (29-15) will battle No. 1 Southside-Gadsden in the Class 6A winner's bracket Saturday at 10:30 a.m. A victory would send the Black and Gold straight to state, while a loss would set up a do-or-die matchup shortly after. "Down 1-0, it's either score or lose," coach Stephanie Barlow said. "I could see it on Claire's face when she stepped to the plate. She had the look that said, 'This game is over.' First pitch, she knocked it out." Taiya Ponder beat out an infield hit to set the stage for Jenkins, while Olivia Schwaiger kept Cullman in it through nine long frames. "Hopefully we can go out and finish strong tomorrow," Barlow said. In an earlier game, the Bearcats shut out Fort Payne 7-0.
.....Cullman Times Staff Reports.
5-7-2015: _____PREP SPORTS: Robinson, Jenkins, White earn spots on All-Star baseball, softball rosters:
.....The Times' coverage area increased its representation at the 19th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week by three on Thursday, landing one on the North baseball team and a pair on the North softball squad. Kolby Robinson, a sac bunt and shortstop extraordinaire, will represent Cullman baseball July 21 at Riverwalk Stadium, while Claire Jenkins, an early Alabama commit with power for days, and Rilee White, an all-around threat committed to Snead State, will show what Cullman's and Cold Springs' respective softball programs are all about the same day at Lagoon Park. Both sites are in Montgomery and will house doubleheaders for the 36 combined juniors in each sport deemed worthy of All-Star status based on nominations by high school coaches across the state. The North has an 18-11 series advantage in baseball after a split a year ago. A tie and South win in softball leaves the North up 22-9-3. Both series date back to 1997. Robinson's top-ranked Bearcats host Pinson Valley Friday for a spot in the Class 6A state title series. Jenkins' No. 8 Black and Gold girls will head to Huntsville with hopes of escaping arguably the state's toughest regional bracket.
.....Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 138 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.
4-11-2015: _____PREP ROUNDUP: Lady Bearcats outscore competition 51-3 en route to Paw and Claw Classic title:
.....JASPER,AL - Winning a championship of any sorts is rarely easy, but Cullman softball sure made it look that way at the "Paw and Claw Classic", outscoring its four Saturday foes 51-3 en route to the tourney title. The Class 6A No. 8 Lady Bearcats clinched the crown with a 13-1 thrashing of Tuscaloosa County after downing Briarwood Christian 16-0, Winfield 12-1 and Oak Mountain 10-1 earlier in the day. Cullman, which had at least 12 hits in all four timed bouts and never allowed an opponent more than five, received massive offensive contributions from its entire lineup. Hannah Morton led the way, batting a combined 8 for 11 with four doubles and 10 RBIs. Sierra Easterwood drove in the same number of runs while slugging a triple and double as part of a 7-for-13 performance. Claire Jenkins crushed her seventh home run and finished 8 for 14 with a pair of doubles. Taiya Ponder was a contact machine, hitting 9 for 12 with an RBI. Other big batters for the Black and Gold were Tiffani Schwaiger, five hits, a double and eight RBIs; Kylie Witcher, five hits and six RBIs; Olivia Schwaiger, five hits, four doubles and four RBIs; McKensi Burks, four hits and four RBIs; and Elli Dixon, four hits and three RBIs. Defensively, Dixon spent all but two innings behind the plate, and Ponder fell over the fence making a catch in center field. Olivia Schwaiger was absolutely electric in the circle, striking out 17 and going 18 of the squad's 20 innings without issuing a single walk. The ace, who yielded an average of four hits a game, is now 15-6 on the season with a 1.67 earned run average. Easterwood tossed the other two innings with Kaitlyn Brannon working a pair of frames at catcher. Claire Jenkins earned a win on the mound for the Cats vrs. Pinson Valley. "They just turned it on today, and it was truly a team effort," Cullman coach Stephanie Barlow said. "Every single girl that we had out there played a major part, played a major role, and as a coach you can't ask for anything better than that. I was so proud of them."
.....Cullman Times Staff Reports.
4-9-2015: _____Sumiton Christian 11, Cullman 10 (10 innings):
.....The No. 8 Bearcats fell a little short to the top-ranked team in Class 2A, dropping a big offensive slugfest at home. Sierra Easterwood and Tiffani Schwaiger each had three base hits for Cullman, while Claire Jenkins launched a grand slam as one of her two knocks. McKensi Burks also tallied a pair of hits for the 15-9 Bearcats. Olivia Schwaiger went the distance in the loss, and center fielder Taiya Ponder had two assists to catcher Elli Dixon for outs at the plate.
3-18-2015: ____Cullman 6, Decatur 0: / ____Cullman 12, Gardendale 4:
.....Claire Jenkins bombed a home run to go with four RBIs and a triple, helping the Black and Gold move to 9-4 and 2-0 in the area following Wednesday's win. Sierra Easterwood (three hits) and McKensi Burks (two hits and an RBI) showed their stuff on offense, while Olivia Schwaiger struck out nine and allowed just two hits in a complete-game effort.
.....The Lady Bearcats scored five runs in the third inning and another six in the fourth en route to a lopsided triumph Tuesday at home. McKensi Burks (two RBIs), Sierra Easterwood (two RBIs), Elli Dixon and Claire Jenkins (two RBIs) all slugged doubles for 6A No. 7 Cullman (8-4). Burks, Easterwood and Taiya Ponder (RBI) had two hits apiece. Hannah Morton added one, and Kaitlyn Brannon knocked in a run. Olivia Schwaiger (5-1) struck out five and walked one in a complete game effort.
3-12-2015: ____Jenkins' blast helps propel Bearcats past Austin 4-3:
.....Cullman's softball team seemed destined to lose its first area matchup this season on Thursday afternoon. Through four innings, the Bearcats had just one hit and trailed Austin by two runs with only six outs remaining to make something happen for their fortunes at Heritage Park. Luckily, Cullman had Claire Jenkins. After a pair of singles by Sierra Easterwood and Elli Dixon, the Alabama commit drilled a three-run shot in the bottom of the fifth frame to give her team a one-run lead, which it turned into a 4-3 victory in seven innings to bump the Black and Gold's record to 7-4 on the season. ?I hadn't had a hit so far, so I just wanted to put it in play and get some runs in," Jenkins said. "As soon as I hit, I knew it was going out. I was so happy, because we really needed it. I was due." Added coach Stephanie Barlow: "It was a big deal for us. We were kind of hanging around and nothing was going right. We started to get down a little and then all of the sudden, we made something happen. They made some good swings and got some hits. Claire is in that spot for a reason." The clutch hit was a welcome sight for Barlow, who watched her group strand five runners - three coming on a Taiya Ponder bases-loaded liner that was snagged off the turf in the second inning. Despite Jenkins' bomb, the Black Bears scored the game-tying run on a two-out hit in the top of the sixth frame. The score remained tied up at 3 until the bottom of the seventh inning, when McKensi Burks led off with a triple to right field. Jenkins arrived at the plate shortly after with a chance to put the Bearcats up for good. Claire is pictured while rounding the bases after her grand-slam homer putting the Lady Bearcats on top by one run.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
2-4-2015: ____Cullman junior Jenkins, Dixon verbally committ to Tide, Blazers:
.....Without a single local football player set to take part in National Signing Day, leave it to a pair of Cullman softball standouts to spice up the area?s recruiting news. Claire Jenkins and Elli Dixon both unintentionally chose last Thursday to publicize their college choices, with Jenkins verbally committing to the University of Alabama and Dixon doing the same with UAB. Both girls are juniors and figure heavily into the Lady Bearcats? plans for the quickly approaching softball season. Jenkins, an All-State first-team outfielder as a sophomore, will start at shortstop, serve as a second pitching option, and either resume her leadoff role or step into the clean-up spot. Dixon will be right back behind the plate at catcher and also look to increase her value at the next level by playing some second base. Cullman already has a tradition of attending an Alabama-UAB softball game every year, coach Stephanie Barlow said, "For both of them to commit to such strong Division I programs is just exciting as a coach.? It doesn?t exactly hurt the program?s image as it rises to Class 6A, either. Dixon was the first of the D-1 duo to commit about a week-and-a-half ago, and Jenkins soo followed suit. Jenkins let Barlow know by walking up to her in an Alabama sweatshirt. Jenkins? decision gives Cullman High two underclassmen who have already verbally committed to Alabama. Bearcat baseball?s Owen Lovell, who?s just a sophomore, was the first to announce his intention to eventually join the Tide.
.....Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 138 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.
6-5-2014: ____ALL-STATE SOFTBALL: Holly Pond's Holcombe, Cullman's Claire Jenkins earn 1st-team nods:
.....One is a grizzled vet. The other is a rising star. And both are deserving of the All-State accolades bestowed upon them when the Alabama Sports Writers Association released its honorary softball squad late Thursday night. Holly Pond's Montana Holcombe and Cullman's Claire Jenkins were rewarded for exceptional seasons with matching first-team selections. Holcombe, a senior, pulled off the feat at pitcher in 3A, while Jenkins, a sophomore, was deemed one of 5A's top outfielders/utility.
Jenkins burst onto the varsity scene in 2013 and successfully avoided even the slightest sign of a sophomore slump in her second go-round with Cullman. The free swinger was a force at the plate but truly made her mark as a selfless defender ready and able to play wherever coach Stephanie Barlow needed. Over the course of the campaign, Jenkins happily helped out as an outfielder, pitcher, shortstop and even suited up behind the plate for an area tourney game when regular starting catcher went down. "Claire really can do anything," Barlow said. "She will step up in any situation that we ask, and she'll go after it. She's the kid you want up when the game's on the line." A quick look at Jenkins's offensive statistics would make most assume the slugger bats in the middle of the lineup. But she was actually the Black and Gold's leadoff hitter - and a beastly one at that. From that top spot and out of 134 total at bats, Jenkins cranked out seven home runs, 55 RBIs, 21 doubles, five triples, 67 total hits and a staggering .500 batting average. She started rallies, captured 37 stolen bases and proved to be just as capable of laying down a bunt as crushing a longball. "If we get her on, then we know we're going to have a good inning," Barlow said. The Lady Bearcats had their fair share of good innings this spring, and, as their coach indicated, Jenkins was often a big reason why. The whiz kid walloped four home runs and drove in double-digit runs at the Oneonta Invitational alone. Just for good measure, she tossed two of Cullman's six wins en route to the tournament title. Jenkins sent a shot over the fence against East Limestone in an area tourney triumph that allowed the Lady Bearcats to advance to regionals. There, she belted out five hits and two RBIs in a pair of extremely close contests. Cullman, which was ranked for a solid stretch following a mid-season streak that topped out at 10 wins, finished 30-19. Jenkins is on more than just the ASWA's radar, too. The up-and-comer is already drawing SEC interest from Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi State ... as a sophomore. "How crazy is that?" Barlow said. "She's going to get better and bigger and stronger over the next two years. She's going to make a big impact, not only here, but in college. "She's so passionate, and she's very competitive. I can see her confidence growing more and more every year. We're excited about the future."
.....Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 138 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.
5-5-2014: _____Class 5A, Area 15 Tournament - Cullman Lady Bearcats secures spot in regional tournament
Cullman hammered East Limestone 12-1 during its first game to secure a spot in next weekend's North Regional Tournament in Huntsville before falling 2-0 to Hartselle in the area title matchup. "You want to win the area tournament, but the bigger picture is that we are making it to the regionals," Black and Gold coach Stephanie Barlow said. "That's what really matters. We want to keep our eyes on that prize, and that's making it to state." Tiffani Schwaiger belted a first-inning grand slam to stake her team to an early lead against the Indians. Claire Jenkins popped a homer as well during her three-hit contribution. Schwaiger and senior, Hayden Short, each had two hits apiece. In the nightcap, pitcher Olivia Schwaiger allowed just four hits in the tough loss to the Class 5A, No. 5 Hartselle Tigers.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
4-2-2014: ____Lady Bearcats beat East Limestone 7-3 to remain perfect in area play:
.....Stephanie Barlow couldn't have asked for better birthday gift on Tuesday afternoon. While April 1st is traditionally known as "April Fools' Day," Cullman's softball squad was anything but playful with their area rival East Limestone - much to their coach's delight. The Class 5A No. 9 Lady Bearcats continued their solid play versus the Indians to grab a 7-3 triumph and improve to 20-10 and a perfect 3-0 in area play this season. "It's the best present you can have," a beaming Barlow said. "It was a pretty day and a great win. We came out somewhat rough in the beginning, but it's nice that we received a pair of home runs to lead off our first two innings. It got us back to even and took the pressure off from there." East Limestone took an early 2-0 lead courtesy of a single base hit in the first inning. However, Claire Jenkins and Hannah Morton quickly tied the game on respective homers to open the bottom of the first and second innings. After Morton's round-tripper, the Black and Gold quickly kept up their momentum with a pair of hits from Olivia Schwaiger and Kaitlyn Brannon before a Jenkins' walk loaded the bases for a couple of Bearcat hitters. The Indians were able to retire Taiya Ponder to get two outs but couldn't put away Elli Dixon, who blooped a bases-clearing single to shallow right field to give Cullman a 5-2 cushion. "When you have fast baserunners, you have to take a huge advantage of opportunities like that," said Barlow of the rare feat. "We saw they weren't hurrying up, and I told our girl on third to keeping going." Tiffani Schwaiger and Morton added a couple of two-out RBI singles before the inning finally came to an end for the Indians. Meanwhile, after a shaky start, Schwaiger found a great vibe on the mound. She tossed a complete game, scattering seven hits, six walks and six strikeouts to grab the W for her squad. Only one of her three runs allowed was earned. "Olivia did what she does best," Barlow said. "She overcame that rough start and really did well for us after." Morton led all Bearcats with three hits to go along with two RBIs and a run scored. Brannon collected two hits, while Jenkins, T. Schwaiger, Dixon, O. Schwaiger and Hayden Short each finished the day with one base knock. Pictured is Cullman's Claire Jenkins that hammers her sixth home run of the season during the first inning of the Bearcats' 7-3 victory. Fresh off a superb effort at the Gulf Shores Classic over spring break, the Bearcats win on Tuesday didn't shock their coach one bit. Not with the group she's seen so far this year. "They've really stepped into their own and are comfortable with where they are," Barlow said. "They're still working hard and are more consistent. They're hungry for more success." Cullman will travel to 3A No. 6 Cordova on Thursday.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
3-19-2014: _____Lady Bearcats bump win streak to 10 with 9-3 comeback vs. Warriors
Tournament titles are certainly sweet, but Cullman coach Stephanie Barlow will be the first to tell you that area wins are even better. Three days after securing the Oneonta Invitational crown, the Lady Bearcats strung together 14 hits, received a steady outing from Claire Jenkins and didn't panic after trailing early in a 9-3 comeback over cross-town rival West Point Tuesday at home. The win was the Black and Gold's 10th in a row, bumping them to 15-6 overall and 2-0 in area play. That last mark sounds pretty good to Barlow considering the way her squad fared in league play in 2013. "Last year, we were No. 4 in the area going into area playoffs," she said. "So it was really important for us to come out strong, get this and get it early." The Lady Warriors snagged all the momentum early, scoring all three runs before Cullman could even compile three outs. Daeshia Smith drove in one with a groundout, and Darana Campbell knocked in two more with a single to right center field. Leading off with a punch for the bottom half of the first inning, Claire Jenkins delivers a double and then scores quickly on Sierra Easterwood's stroke to center field. But then the Bearcats weren't able to capitalize on their opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in each of the first two frames. The score stayed at 3-1 until Claire Jenkins again ignited the offense with a double and a follow-up run-scoring single by Elli Dixon in the fourth inning. Cullman then took control with respective three- and four-run outbursts in the fifth and sixth stanzas. McKensi Burks provided the game-tying single in the former, while Hayden Short (single), Tiffani Schwaiger (double), Hannah Morton (double) and Burks (single) reeled off consecutive hits in the latter to seal the deal. "We knew we were hitting the ball," Barlow said. "It was just a matter of getting those timely hits, which we came back and did towards the end." Schwaiger finished 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and RBIs to lead the offensive onslaught for the Lady Bearcats, who got at least one hit from eight different players. Burks put on a 3-for-4, two-RBI performance of her own, Jenkins was 2 for 3 with a set of doubles, and Morton was 2 for 2 with a two-base drive and an RBI. Easterwood and Dixon both touted run-scoring singles, while Short and Kaitlyn Brannon collected a hit apiece. "When the middle and bottom of your lineup can come up and make those big hits for you, that's when you know you've really got something special," Barlow said. "Everybody can hit the ball, and everybody can step up and do their job." Jenkins settled down superbly in the pitcher's circle after the shaky start, retiring 11 Warriors in a row during one stretch from the third to sixth innings. She wrapped up the complete game with three strikeouts, a trio of walks and four hits allowed.
.....Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 138 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.
3-17-2014: _____Lady Bearcats win hardware at Oneonta Invitational
Cullman Lady Bearcats(13-6) was downright dominant in six games, outscoring its opponents 45-4 en route to claiming the Oneonta Invitational first place hardware. The Black and Gold secured wins versus Pinson Valley (22-0), Oneonta (2-0), West End (9-1), Leeds (3-1), Springville (6-1) and Southside-Gadsden (6-2 in the championship tilt). "It was a great weekend for us," coach Stephanie Barlow said. "We came out really strong and played some error-free games. Our bats opened up and we were able to beat a couple of high-ranked teams, which was icing on the cake." Claire Jenkins was her usual bad self, walloping four homers and collecting more than 10 RBIs on the day. She also earned two victories on the mound for Cullman, while Olivia Schwaiger notched the other four. "Those two really turned it up on the mound," Barlow said. "They only gave up three earned runs. You can't really ask for more than that. You have to be on top of your game to win against good teams. We were constantly talking pitches and strategy in between innings." Taiya Ponder and Hayden Short helped pace the offense with seven hits apiece - including a in the park homer - while Elli Dixon had a solid performance with five hits and Tiffani Schwaiger, with four. Barlow was ecstatic following her team's performance over the weekend and believes it has a lot to do with the chip on the shoulder. "They want to show everybody that their last year's regionals third place finish wasn't a fluke," she said. "They're hungry for more. It makes me proud to be their coach."
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
3-1-2014: _____Lady Cats' Short delivers game-winning sac fly
With the bases loaded and the game tied in the bottom of the seventh inning of Thursday's home opener against Cordova, Hayden Short did what seniors are supposed to do -- she came through in the clutch for Cullman. Short slugged a fly ball just far enough to give fellow team mate Claire Jenkins all the tag-up opportunity she needed to score the winning run and cap off a thrilling 4-3 triumph over the Blue Devils, already the Lady Bearcats second of the young season versus their Class 3A counterpart. Sierra Easterwood sizzled with the stick, batting 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Hannah Morton made her mark with two hits and an RBI in threee at-bats, while Kaitlyn Brannon touted a pair of runs. Claire Jenkins claimed the win in the pitcher's circle for Cullman and had the lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh which became the winning score. The Cat's knocked off Class 6A Bob Jones 7-4 on Tuesday night in Madison and are hosting Hayden the defending Class 5A champs next week at home. The Cats hold a 4-3 record.
.....Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.
5-14-2013: _____Bearcats make late-season noise, look ahead to bright future
Entering her first year as head coach of Cullman's softball program, Stephanie Barlow figured her young Bearcat squad would probably endure some early-season growing pains - and she was right. Following a tough 2-13 start, the Black and Gold could have folded the tent and given up on its 2013 campaign, attributing the down year to a difficult schedule and a roster littered with freshmen and eighth-graders. But for anyone who knows Barlow or Cullman's proud tradition, that simply wasn't going to happen. "Those first few weeks were rough," Barlow admitted. "We had a lot of rainouts and played some really good 6A teams. However, they never let it get them down. I told them if they could play well against top competition that nothing could stop us down the road." Despite the rocky start, the Bearcats slowly began to turn their season around. According to Barlow, momentum shifted for the better and team chemistry began to click sometime during the squad's spring break tournament in Gulf Shores back in March. "I think the girls figured out how to win then," she said. "They learned how to fight and realized they could start coming back and winning these games. They realized they were all capable of hitting the ball." With a fresh mindset, Cullman slowly improved toward the end of the regular season, as the underclassmen became more and more accustomed to doing what it took to compete and be more consistent. After falling to top-seeded Hartselle in the area tournament, the Bearcats edged West Point 6-4 before upsetting East Limestone 4-0 to earn a spot in the North Regional Tournament in Huntsville this past weekend. "We didn't really go into Huntsville with one single goal in mind," Barlow said. "We all just wanted to go there, play our best and make some noise." It couldn't have gotten much louder for the Black and Gold on Friday night, when they upset No. 4 Lawrence County with supurb pitching performance by Claire Jenkins winning 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals of the winners' bracket. "That was something that excited all of us," Barlow said. "Everything clicked for us in that game. Our chemistry was there, we hit and we pitched. It really gave us excitement thinking about the road ahead." The Bearcats went on to sandwich a 9-0 win over Muscle Shoals between two losses to No. 3 Southside-Gadsden and in a rematch with Lawrence County to end their season at 18-28 overall. Although the record might not show it, Barlow knows her team is worlds better than they were to start the season. Freshman Claire Jenkins and eighth-grader Olivia Schwaiger were big reasons for the Cats' success. Jenkins was a key cog both on the mound and at the plate for Cullman, while Schwaiger pitched a three-hit shutout against the Trojans during the playoff run. "Claire's been a great kid for us," Barlow said. "She's our rally starter at the top of the lineup. Olivia really hit her stride after we brought her up from junior varsity. She works her tail off." With two rising stars and junior , slugger Hayden Short , it's easy to see why the first-year coach is eager to get back out on the field next season. "This is such a great team in terms of chemistry and how well they all play together," Barlow said. "Knowing that you are going to have that kind of team for the next three or four years, it's exciting for me as a coach."
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
5-3-2013: _____Cullman secures spot in regional tournament with a 4-0 upset win over East Limestone
HARTSELLE - Cullman softball coach Stephanie Barlow couldn't be any happier with how her team has grown and responded to the everyday challenges of a tough season. On Friday morning, her squad took another step in the right direction, becoming the fifth local team to punch its ticket to next week's regional tournaments with a 4-0 upset victory over area-rival East Limestone. "I'm so proud of them," Barlow said. "They really came out focused for that game and knew what they needed to do." Hayden Short hit a two-run homer in the top of the second inning that gave the Bearcats a lead they never relinquished. 'We wanted to come out and start strong,' the coach said. 'We have been pretty mentally tough these past two days.' Hannah Morton pitched a dandy for the Black and Gold to stave off a tough Indian lineup. "She did really well," Barlow added of the eighth-grader. The win secures a spot for Cullman in next week's North Regional tournament. Cullman's bid for a second-straight upset win was deterred later in the afternoon, as the Bearcats fell 10-3 to rival Hartselle in the championship game of the Class 5A, Area 15 Tournament. The Bearcats will face their first oponent of Regional play vrs. Lawrence County on Friday at 3:30 p.m in Huntsville.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
5-3-2013: _____Cullman ends Warriors' season with thrilling 6-5 win in area tournament
HARTSELLE - The last time Cullman and West Point locked horns on the softball field, the Warriors edged the Bearcats at home in a thrilling, one-run victory. When the two teams met again in the Class 5A, Area 15 Tournament on Thursday night, it was yet another heart-stopping affair, this one ultimately belonging to the Black and Gold. Cullman hit two home runs, played solid defense and stood up to a late West Point rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 6-5 victory, extending its season at least one more day, while sending the Warriors home for good. "It was a very exciting game for both teams," Cullman coach Stephanie Barlow said. "We got down early, but the important thing is we didn't give up. I told them if we keep handling the little stuff, we can come back and win. We made the adjustments, and it paid off for us." The Bearcats got off to a fast start, taking a quick 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning on a two-run single by eighth-grader Mckensi Burks. West Point fired right back in the bottom of the frame, as Daeshia Smith drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit in half before Brooke Marchman cleared the bags with a three-run triple to the right-center field gap to give her team a 4-2 advantage heading into the second inning. The score remained the same until the fourth, as neither Cullman's Claire Jenkins or the Warriors' Jeri Beasley were willing to give an inch on the mound. After retiring the first two batters in the top half of the fourth, Beasley surrendered a solo blast to Burks that closed the gap to 4-3. The Bearcats didn't stop there, though, taking a 5-4 advantage on a two-run home run from the pitcher Claire Jenkins in the very next inning. "That was McKensi's (Burks) first varsity home run and Claire's (Jenkins) second of the year," Barlow said. "We had some power tonight, but we also played some very good small ball to score some runs as well." With the Black and Gold clinging to a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, Jenkins needed just three more outs to close out the game and the Warriors' season. West Point, however, wasn't going to make it easy. Courtney Walker led off the frame with a walk before Mackenzie Baswell roped a double to left field to put runners at second and third with nobody out. After an RBI groundout from Karra Elam cut the deficit to one, Jenkins went into lockdown mode, inducing a comebacker to the mound from Mallory Walker before getting Darana Campbell to strike out swinging to end the contest and preserve the victory for Cullman. "She was very, very calm out there," Barlow said. Burks finished the game with three knocks to lead all players, while teammates Elli Dixon and Claire Jenkins were each good for two hits. Hayden Short and Olivia Schwaiger added one apiece. Cullman will take on the loser of East Limestone/Hartselle Friday at 11:30 a.m. A win would guarantee the Bearcats a place at next week's regional tournament.
.....Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 136 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.

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