HS & Club Softball

Club Spotlight: Carolina Jayhawks 18U Commit Five

Carolina Jayhawks

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The Carolina Jayhawks Club program started in 2012 as a 14U team. Head 18U coach Jemel May, gave some background history on the program and how he got involved as a coach. “In 2011 the Marine Corps brought my family to Jacksonville North Carolina. Like a lot of dads, you find yourself coaching your kid’s team. As my 12 year Marine Corps career was winding down I was asked to coach”, Jemel explained. Admitting to knowing very little about softball at the time, Jemel embraced the challenge and started recruiting players for the program’s first 14u team. “This was extremely hard because our area is dominated by soccer. The closest metropolitan area to us is Raleigh, which is 3 hours away” said Jemel. They managed to put a team together, two of its first members are two of the seniors that will be graduating in the spring and who will be going on to play in college.

Since the programs start in 2012, the Jayhawks organization has slowly turned into one of the top college showcase teams in eastern North Carolina. The organization has even had the opportunity to host camps with James Madison University and The University of North Carolina.

This upcoming spring, the team will say goodbye to its first graduating class of their organization. Remarkably, all five seniors have committed to play at the college level beginning in the fall of 2017. Three are going to be playing Division I, one Division II and one, Junior college. Head coach Jemel May feels confident sending his first five commits off to play at the next level. “My goal from the start was to be able to mentor young people just like I did in the military. I tell my players there are only two kinds of people in this world, meat eaters, and leaf eaters. Leaf eaters wait for things to happen and meat eaters make things happen” said Jemel.

2017-Megan Brogden of Havelock High School has committed to play for Coach Gino Olivieri Div I Coppin State University as a pitcher. Megan is a legacy player who has been with the organization since the start. She also joins a group of Jayhawk players to have received high school honors of all conference, district, and state.

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2017-Sydney Dombrowki of Swansboro High School has committed to play for Coach Gino Olivieri of Div I Coppin State University as a utility player. Sydney is a legacy player who has been with the team since the beginning. She is a Dynamic hitter, great defensive player and team leader. Playing primarily 1st base and pitcher during her Jayhawk career.

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2017-Kristina Lee of Jones Senior High School has committed to play for Coach Herber Watson at Florence Darlington-Tech College. She will be joining a program that advanced to the Junior College World Series last season. Kristina has worked hard on her game at the 18’s, becoming an excellent defensive shortstop and a potent offensive performer with excellent speed. Kristina was a competitive gymnast until she had an injury that stopped her from competing. She has only been playing softball for 3 years. She is the best athlete I have ever coached.

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2017-Kayla Porter of West Carteret High School will play for Coach Heidi Cavallo at Div I Norfolk State University. Kayla is a hard working All-State 3B, 1B, player, an excellent hitter and all around excellent student-athlete who will help Norfolk State’s offensive production. She was recruited to be a pitcher at NSU.

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2017-Alexis Washenko of Havelock High School C/OF has committed to play for LaTaya Hilliard-Gray at Div II Winston-Salem State University. Alexis is a hard worker who has excelled as a catcher and power hitter, as well as being a team leader who brings intensity to the field. Alexis is joining a program that has won its conference the last 4 out of 5 years.

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Photos by: Carin Gosnell

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