FAYETTEVILLE — West Memphis pitcher Shelby Jo Fenter might be the most adaptable player on the field today at Bogle Park.
Faced with a different challenge every season during her four-year career at West Memphis, Fenter attacked each one and helped the Lady Blue Devils perform far beyond expectations.
Now, West Memphis Coach and East All-Star Coach Jonathon Crymes will hand Fenter the ball one last time today at the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star softball doubleheader before Fenter heads off to Russellville to continue her career at Arkansas Tech.
Fenter knows going from the Class 6A level to theNCAA Division II level will be another hurdle, but the Golden Suns will soon find out what the East All-Stars already know about their new teammate:
She doesn’t get intimidated.
“I want to go in and prove myself as a freshman,” Fenter said. “I want to try to be the ace as a freshman, try to win our conference and do well at nationals.”
Fenter was up to the task as a freshman three years ago at West Memphis. She stepped right in as the Lady Blue Devils’ ace and took them to the second round of the state playoffs.
With a year of experience, Fenter was asked to take another step forward as a sophomore and she delivered again by guiding the Lady Blue Devils to the semifinals.
Fenter entered her junior season with a new coach when Crymes took over the program two years ago. Although West Memphis was unable to match its 2008 playoff success in Crymes’ first season, the Lady Blue Devils still managed to make it back to the second round.
Crymes realized right away the type of player he had inherited in Fenter.
“You feel pretty confident she’s going to hold the opponent to one or two runs every game,” Crymes said. “She went out every time with the idea she was going to shut somebody out.”
Fenter took on her most daunting challenge this year. West Memphis lost eight seniors from last year, and five of their replacements entered this season with no experience.
“We had f ive players who had never picked up a softball in their life,” Fenter said. “We went out and found some athletes, and they ended up being pretty good. It was literally like Softball 101. They had to learn how to run the bases and where to throw it when you catch it. We literally had to teach them the game.”
They learned their lessons well. One of the newcomers, outfielder Jasmine Lewis, hit better than .300 and made the all-conference team, but it was Fenter who shouldered the heaviest load on the mound and at the plate. Fenter went 16-6 with a 1.69 ERA, struck out 349 batters and hit .551 with 8 home runs and 30 RBI.
West Memphis (16-6) advanced to the playoffs again, defeating Texarkana 2-0 before falling 4-0 to Lake Hamilton in the second round.
While the Lady Blue Devils didn’t make it to the title game, they proved plenty to themselves and everyone else.
“Everybody wants to make it to the state finals, but you’vegot to keep it in perspective with what we had,” Fenter said. “People around town would talk and say they justhoped we’d win a game.
“I knew somehow we’d find a way. Really, I just wanted to prove everybody wrong.”Fenter at a glance ALL-STAR TEAM East SCHOOL West Memphis POSITION Pitcher NOTEWORTHY Went 16-6 with a 1.69 ERA, struck out 349 batters, held opponents to a .109 batting average and hit .551 with 8 home runs and 30 RBI as a senior. ... Helped guide West Memphis to the state playoffs four consecutive years. ... Plays for West Memphis Coach Jonathon Crymes, coach of the East squad, one last time today before continuing her career next season at Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
AHSCA All-Star softball rostersWHEN 5 p.m. today (DH) WHERE Bogle Park, Fayetteville EAST PLAYER SCHOOL Molly Edwards North Little Rock Chelsea Conrad Cabot Kathryn Goins Van Buren Shelby Jo Fenter West Memphis Alex Osmon Mountain Home Sara Smith Marion Shea Cothern Greene Co. Tech Nikki King Beebe MacKenzie Powers Greene Co. Tech Lacy Staten Trumann Hallie Horton DeWitt Hannah Hargis Heber Springs Ashley Fite Glen Rose Emily Guess Arkansas Baptist Katie Reynolds Rison Karla Marroquin Buffalo Is. Central LeAnne Massanelli McCrory Staci Spargo Walnut Ridge Dedra Johnston Viola Courtney Wilson SS Bee Branch Miranda Doyle Hillcrest Pete Reed Cabot MANAGER Morgan Miller (W. Memphis) COACH Jonathon Crymes (W. Memphis) ASSISTANTS Cary Cossey (Buffalo Island Central), Debbie Stepp (Bryant), Brian Haynes (Trumann)WEST PLAYER SCHOOL Kaisha Arnold Bentonville Alex Sullivan Bentonville Chloe Brown Springdale Ashley Martindale Benton Logan Gardner Texarkana Kristi Pinkard Watson Chapel Amy Horne Harrison Jill Barrett Greenwood Julie Saunders Alma Katie Parrish Nashville Shalie Day Ashdown Cendyl Carter Dardanelle Kayleigh Harriman Elkins Megan Robinson Perryville Tonya Villines Lincoln Emily Jackson Dierks Amy Butterfield Smackover Shelby Marty Hampton Whitney Abbott Nemo Vista Sadra Siebenmorgan Scranton Amber Garrett Ouachita Stephanie Winfield Hope MANAGER Morgan Strong (Elkins) COACH Brian Butler (Greenbrier) ASSISTANTS Paula Wheeler (Elkins), Brian Brown (Nashville), Kent Early (Bentonville)
Sports, Pages 17 on 06/23/2010