By Lee Davis
C.J. Hawkins had already built a reputation as one of Alabama’s top high school softball coaches when she left Clay-Chalkville for Spain Park seven years ago.
But maybe it took a routine housekeeping chore at her new school for her to realize how challenging the assignment would be.
“My husband and I were cleaning out the dugout,” Hawkins recalled. “And I found an award they had been giving to players who dived for a ball in the outfield. I couldn’t believe it — an award just for diving for a ball. I knew at that moment that we were going have to change the mindset here.”
At first, progress was slow. Hawkins’ first season harvested only nine victories against 36 losses. But the ship was gradually beginning to turn.
“We had to make softball important to the kids,” said Hawkins. “Soccer, golf, tennis and other sports were getting more love. We were participating but we weren’t really competing.”
The new coach’s passion for the game became contagious. More players in Spain Park’s feeder system began to spend their summers playing travel ball and attending camps. An increasing number of the school’s best girl athletes were choosing softball as their top sport. Eventually, talented players caught in a numbers game at schools with more softball tradition started coming over to be a part of something new at Spain Park.
“The kids at Clay-Chalkville lived and breathed softball,” said Hawkins. “They played literally all year long. When we got to Spain Park, a lot of kids were flipping the switch and multi-tasking from one to another. Then we got kids who were picking softball first.”
In Hawkins’ third year, the Lady Jaguars went 26-24, marking the school’s first-ever winning season in the sport. “In my first year, we told our sophomores that we could have a winning season by the time they were seniors,” she said. “Some people didn’t believe it, but we did it.” Thirty-five wins and an area title came the following season.
Now fast forward to 2014, where Hawkins has the Jaguar program at the height of its power. Spain Park entered the week with a 38-8 record and number five ranking in latest Class 6A poll.
“It’s really all about our coaches, our school and most of all our kids,” said Hawkins, attempting to deflect credit for the Jags’ astonishing rise. “It took a tremendous commitment in time, effort and money to get to where we are, but everyone was willing to do it.”
And now Hawkins doesn’t have to spend much time cleaning out the dugout. “We have great facilities and a beautiful field,” she said. “Teams from other parts of the state come here and think they are playing in a college environment. Again, it’s a testament to the commitment we have had from parents, kids, and the school.”
Another testament to the rise of the program is that Spain Park has become a favorite stop of college recruiters. Senior pitcher Haleigh Sisson, with an 11-2 record to date, has committed to UAB. Catcher Brittany Anderson and outfielder Marisa Osga are headed to Central Alabama Community College. Pitcher Julie Knight, with a 19-3 record, has yet to choose a school but is being highly recruited. Junior pitcher/third baseman MaryKatherine Bonamy has already chosen the University of North Carolina.
With so much talent on hand, it’s understandable why Lady Jaguar fans are dreaming of a state championship. Hawkins is realistic when assessing her team’s chances of bringing home the big blue trophy.
“There are a lot of good teams out there, including in our own Area 8,” she said. “It’s all about getting hits at the right time, having good pitching and playing defense. It’s really a simple game.”
Regardless of whether Spain Park grabs the top prize in 2014, the program’s future looks bright. “We’ve got a good junior varsity group coming up and good kids in our feeder middle school,” said Hawkins. “We have the foundation to be solid for quite a while.”
The Lady Jags’ rivals might be disappointed to learn that Hawkins – with more than 600 career victories on her ledger –has no plans to hang up her whistle. “I don’t consider coaching at Spain Park to be a job – it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “These kids are a pleasure to coach and my staff makes it easy. I want to coach my daughter in high school and she’s in second grade now – so I’m not going anywhere.”
And Spain Park may be going all the way to the top.
