MISS SOFTBALL

Brilliant season ends with wince

Miss Softball, Peyton Jenkins, Bryant
Miss Softball, Peyton Jenkins, Bryant

— As a pitcher for the Bryant Lady Hornets, Peyton Jenkins tossed three no-hitters and 11 one-hitters this season. As a batter, she had at least one hit in 31 of the team’s 34 games.

Despite those statistics, Bryant Coach Debbie Clark said her star player will be remembered most for something a little more personal.

“She has the most bone-crushing hugs you’ll ever experience,” Clark said. “She’s a very compassionate person with a heart as big as this field.”

Jenkins made an impact on her teammates and the traditionally strong program on and off the field. Her efforts helped the Lady Hornets complete a perfect season, and she earned the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Miss Softball honor.

Jenkins came back strong this year after battling through a bout of mononucleosis as a junior.

“I was proud that I was able to stay in such good shape,” Jenkins said. “I was able to excel and I never stopped, even though it was tiring. ... This year, I was able to pick up speed and movement with my pitching. I was proud of that.”

Bryant finished the season with an unblemished record, but Jenkins said the season was not perfect for her. She suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the second inning of the state tournament semifinal against Springdale Har-Ber, and it left her with some bittersweet feelings. She batted three times, and knocked in a run in the championship game against Bentonville, but Jenkins’ knee could not withstand more than one inning in the circle in that game.

“I felt I was just about to peak,” Jenkins said. “I was heartbroken and I’m still heartbroken. I still cry about it. ... I got really upset during the [championship] game knowing I couldn’t control things. I had dreamed about being in the championship game for the third time and I never got to experience that with the people I’m closest to. The feelings weren’t the same. I wasn’t on the field. I didn’t have the feeling that I was wanting or that I had been waiting for.”

Clark said she thought her star pitcher handled the situation in a positive manner.

“It scared her,” Clark said, referring to the injury suffered against Springdale Har-Ber. “It scared all of us. She threw a strike and just went down. None of us knew what happened.”

After Jenkins was carried to the dugout and with the team scrambling to adjust, Clark said Jenkins remained calm and began giving her teammates words of encouragement.

“Peyton was giving instructions,”Clark said. “She told our freshman pitcher [Jordan Williams] where to throw it. She told [catcher] Jessie Taylor what pitches to call and that we’d be fine.”

“I’m proud of the team as a whole,” Jenkins said. “We stayed close. We’re all like sisters and we didn’t let anything come in between us. We fought through some things a lot of teams could not have fought through.”

Peyton Jenkins SCHOOL Bryant CLASS Senior POSITION Pitcher STATISTICS Pitching: 32-0 record with a 0.48 ERA. She struck out 260 while giving up only 33 walks. She also tossed three no-hitters and 11 one-hitters. Batting: .477 average with 22 doubles, 6 home runs and 41 RBI.

FAMILY Mother: Glenna Turner; Father and stepmother: Lewis and Tonya Jenkins; Brother: Nic Jenkins; Stepsister: Tarra Hendricks; Stepbrother: Ty Hendricks.

NOTEWORTHY Will play for Central Baptist College in Conway next season. ... Plans to major in biology... Arkansas High School Gatorade Player of the Year for 2012. ... Born Feb. 6, 1994.

Sports, Pages 30 on 07/01/2012

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