James Clemens Softball Players Lila Young and Holly Sharp Sign Scholarships
MADISON- James Clemens softball players Lila Young and Holly Sharp are the latest high school athletes to sign college athletic scholarships at a recent school ceremony.
Young, an All-Star and All-State shortstop, signed with UAH. Sharp, a top pitcher with the Lady Jets, chose Huntingdon College of Montgomery to play her collegiate softball.
“I was verbally committed to Wallace State, but UAH approached me last summer and gave me an offer I couldn’t pass up,” said Young, who will carry a 3.8 grade point average into her studies in both biology and chemistry with her sights set on becoming a dentist.
Sharp has a 3.5 grade point average and has thoughts of earning a degree in the medical field. She chose the NCAA Div. III school located in the State Capitol due to its small community atmosphere.
“I fell in love with the school as it’s a small campus and has small classes, which I really like,” said Sharp. “I fell in love with softball at a young age and always looked forward to signing a scholarship offer.”
The senior twosome will lead the Lady Jets this spring under the leadership of first-year head coach Brittany Vintson as the squad looks to better its record of a season ago.
“I noticed I was pretty good at the sport and saw some friends earning scholarships through softball,” said Young, a team captain. “I’m excited to join UAH as I have friends on the team.”
Sharp, the daughter of Michael and Robin Sharp, said Jennie Finch, former U.S. Olympian and the most recognized female softball player in U.S. history, was the inspiration for her to take on the role of pitcher. She saw Finch on television and immediately knew tossing a softball at awaiting hitters was in her future.
“For some reason softball has always been easy for me to play and I’ve had success,” said Sharp. “I’m a hard worker, good leader and motivated to be the best I can be.”
Young is the daughter to Marshall and Julianna Young. She was introduced to the sport featuring a bat, ball and glove at age four as she would take to the backyard at her home with her father who spent countless hours with her gaining experience, as well as, the feel for the sport, which would be her ticket to a college education.
