The future looks bright for the Lady Jets softball program
The 2025 James Clemens Softball team is certainly robust with what could be the youngest team in all of Alabama
Sayde South is one of the oldest players on the James Clemens softball team as a junior, but the team is loaded with youth in 2025. Photo by Dawson Williams
MADISON – In athletics, there’s something to be said for youth. Just ask Bradley Kimbrough, head coach of the James Clemens softball program, as he may have the youngest squad in all of Alabama as the average age of his varsity team is 15. He has six freshman and one eighth grader in the starting lineup. Despite the experience factor not in his favor, the “youth” situation for the 14-year veteran coach is one he is enjoying.
“I’m excited to have this group as this is the first time in my four seasons here at James Clemens we put our own imprint on this group,” said Kimbrough. “The future looks bright.”
As the season was getting underway, the Lady Jets had one senior on their roster in right fielder Laila Boycher and one returning starter, junior, Sayde South, who is listed as the team’s No. 1 pitcher.
“The situation has required me to have more patience than usual, but at the same time this may be the best team I’ve had as a softball coach,” added Kimbrough. “I’m so proud of this group of girls as they work, compete and are resilient, good kids and just a joy to be around. The girls in our mid-infield average about 95100 pounds as most of our opponents are made up of much older, bigger and stronger girls, so we have tried to develop them physically as they have worked hard in the weight room both prior to the season and throughout our current schedule to help. These girls approach the weights by working hard knowing the extra effort will well be the paid off in the future here at James Clemens.”
With a 7-12-1 record, The Lady Jets have a team batting average of .226 and team ERA of 4.69.
The young Lady Jets have a unique situation at hand as most grew up together since kindergarten and played as a team at Liberty Middle School before making their way to the “big school” of James Clemens. Kimbrough knows just my watching the girls they mesh together as a team as they showcase their love for softball and the strong passion for competing on the softball diamond. Kimbrough added, “They all came in excited to be Jets and I’m excited to have them on board.”
The youth factor of the James Clemens softball team is led by eighth grader Makayla Mann who is the starting third baseman and is one of the top three pitchers for the Lady Jets. Photo by Dawson Williams
One area that is normal for any athlete to move to the next level of play and play among mostly older opponents is the speed of game the young players are not accustomed to. The game just moves faster at the plate, on the base paths and in the field. Senior players, many of whom are already 18 years of age, produce a speed of the game that it’s at such a rate the young players don’t have time to assess, so they just react.
“I have talked to everyone involved, our players and coaches, about building and creating a foundation and how we need to focus on building and look at what you have built when you become seniors,” said Kimbrough. “I have an incredible coaching staff who have taught our girls how to adapt causing the learning curve to be minimized for the young players. We treat reps in practice like reps in a game.” Some changes have occurred during the season where the Jets are currently 7-12-1, but the regular starting lineup is made up of the following Lady Jets: Erica Abend (C, Fr.), Bella Wall (1B, Fr.), Addison Crenshaw (2B, Fr.), Harper Jones (SS, Fr.), Makayla Mann (3B, 8), Zoe Knapp (LF, Fr.), Jaslyn Ragan (CF, So.) and Laila Boycher (RF, Sr.). The pitchers for James Clemens include No. 1- Sayde South (Jr.), No. 2- Preselee Ethridge (Fr.) and No. 3Makayla Mann (8).
Sifting through the season at this juncture would indicate the eighth grader Mann could be the top player playing both third base and also pitching. Kimbrough said of his youngest player, “She is our leadoff batter, has a big bat and is dangerous at the plate and she is fundamentally very sound.” She has a .400 onbase average.
Ninth grade shortstop Jones has made impressive gains over the season as she’s currently leading the team in hitting at .327. Kimbrough added, “Harper is the singular most fundamentally sound player I’ve coached. Her technique is almost flawless.”
The fourth-year head coach also said of two additional players who have made some big splashes this season. “Preselee’s pitching and hitting has been very good and our freshman catcher, Erica Abend, is learning to take control on the field.”
For South, who has made her way to the top pitching slot and is tied with Etheridge with 42 innings pitched, her return to the game is remarkable as she had hip surgery last August and missed the entre fall program. She was cleared to return by her doctors in mid-December and has gone though a slow return to the lineup, bur her non-stop work at regaining her strength has been an inspiration to the entire team.
Youth- there’s nothing like it.
