General 10/9/2020 3:37:00 PM Romanda Noble-Watson, SID

2020 Softball Review

Throughout the Fall 2020, the Claflin University athletics department has been highlighting the 2019-2020 seasons of its athletics teams.

This week focus is on the Claflin University 2019-2020 softball team.

Prior to the cancellation of the 2020 softball season due to the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Lady Panthers softball team had begun to hit their stride.

When things were halted, the Claflin softball team was two games under .500 at 9-11 but had won three of its last four games, including a Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association (CIAA) doubleheader sweep of Johnson C. Smith. The nine wins included a non-conference home doubleheader sweep of Anderson University out of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC).

"While we understood why and knew it was for best, it was unfortunate that our season was cancelled due to COVID-19," head coach James "Marty" Kinard said. "We were just starting to play well. Early on we were inconsistent, but after the big home sweep of Anderson and opening the conference season with a sweep on the road, we were starting to move in the right direction. I was really proud of our pitching staff, not only with how they threw but how they handled adversity during the season."

The 2021 Claflin softball team has a solid core returning from last season's squad. The team returns all its top players this season.

"We have a good group who has a lot of collegiate experience and have played in a lot of big games over the course of their careers," said Kinard. "We have our work cut out for us, as CIAA softball is steadily growing, but we are looking forward to the challenge. This group has worked hard on and off the field, so I am excited to see them get back on the field in the spring."

The 2020 Lady Panthers individual successes before the cancellation included rising junior pitcher Bre'Zhay Chambers earning two CIAA Pitcher of the Week while rising sophomores Janell Brown and Jaelyn Jackson each earned one Rookie of the Week honors. Rising juniors Chastin Huntly and Marion Goins were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the week once in 2020.

"We will look to carry the momentum from last season into 2021," Kinard continued. "We will continue to build on what we started last season highlighted by our pitching staff. If we play good defense and provide runs behind the pitchers, then we will put ourselves in position to win a lot of games."

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Players Mentioned

#12 Marion Goins: C; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#42 Bre'Zhay Chambers: P; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

#5 Jaelyn Jackson: P/IF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#16 Janell Brown: P/OF; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#12 Marion Goins
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: C

#42 Bre'Zhay Chambers
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#5 Jaelyn Jackson
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: P/IF

#16 Janell Brown
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: P/OF