Duncan keeps family tradition going, signs softball scholarship
Bob Jones softball player Emily Duncan shown with parents Dixie and Ken, signs with SNead State
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- Emily Duncan of Bob Jones will be following in the footsteps of her grandmother this fall when she continues her softball career at Snead State Community College in Boaz.
Her grandmother Johnny attended her signing ceremony at Bob Jones on Friday and the spry 80-year old surprised everyone when she told how she played basketball and doubled as a cheerleader at Snead State in 1946.
“It’s good to carry on the tradition that my grandma started, it’s cool to share that with her,” said the senior outfielder. Duncan has multiple family ties to the Boaz area and so Snead State fit her perfectly. “I have been there for tryouts and visited twice and I like the campus. It’s really small and I like everything compact and it feels like home to me.”
Duncan won’t be asked to pull double duty as a cheerleader; playing softball will keep her plenty busy. Snead State plays a 50-game spring schedule in Alabama Community College Conference. All their games are double-headers and Snead State is in the North Division with Calhoun, Gadsden, Shelton, Wallace, and Marion Military.
Duncan said she will transfer after two years at Snead to a four year university to possibly get a degree in speech pathology.
Like most softball players at this level, Duncan has been playing since the age of six. She related a painful story of her playing career; running into a pole head first and splitting her head at the brow and suffering a concussion.
The left-handed swinging outfielder batted .527 last season for Bob Jones and also plays travel ball with the North Alabama Kraze as they play all over the state of Alabama and the southeast.
Bob Jones Softball coach Kent Chambers is glad to have Emily for one more season.
“Emily is an outstanding outfielder. We’re looking forward to getting a lot out of her this year. Offensively she handles the bat very well and we expect her to be one of the team leaders and a threat to get on base every at bat,” Chambers said.
Duncan becomes the third Patriot softball player to sign and Chambers expects one or two more. Sydney Booker signed with Southeastern Louisiana U in December.
Duncan (left) and Annabelle Smith (right)
Bob Jones pitcher Annabelle Smith signed with FaulknerState on Thursday, Jan 23. Located in BaldwinCounty, FaulknerState has three campuses including one in GulfShores. Smith will be at the main campus in Bay Minette, just a short drive to the Alabama beaches.
Smith said she plans to stay at Faulkner for two years then transfer to Mississippi State or U of South Alabama.
Smith enters her senior season at Bob Jones as the top pitcher on the Patriots staff.
“Annabelle has developed into one of the top pitchers in North Alabama,” Chambers said. “Last year she had a really good year and during the preseason she has shown improvement and should be one of the best pitchers we have seen here.”
