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JUSTIN GRAVES: Most state DI programs don’t have anything on Clem’s Lions
By Justin GravesRelated Photos
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Wallace State's softball team had four players receive All-American honors this season.
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Add a comment on this storyWhen it comes to softball, Jayne Clem owns the Alabama Community College Conference.
It’s been that way for years.
Since 2003, Clem has led Wallace to five conference championships — including the last three.
But that’s just scratching the surface.
After becoming the first Alabama collegiate softball coach to win a national title in 2008, Clem led Wallace to its second straight NJCAA championship game appearance this season. The Lions finished second to Yavapai.
Clem consistently puts a winner on the field. She also sends players to the next level.
From this season’s team, Clem is sending eight players to four-year school programs. That’s every sophomore on the roster.
This trend isn’t new. It’s been the norm under Clem.
Her players come to Hanceville, become winners and continue their careers elsewhere.
No wonder Clem is one of the most respected college softball coaches in the state…
No wonder Wallace is the most dominant program in the ACCC…
… And no wonder Clem usually gets some of the best prep players in Alabama.
There’s not another college softball program in this state like Wallace, expect for Alabama.
That’s right. Alabama coach Patrick Murphy is the only state coach that should have an upper-hand on Clem in recruiting.
The Tide coach is the only state softball coach with more to offer.
Everyone else is just kidding themselves. And any prep senior that chooses another state softball program over Wallace or Alabama has sold themselves short.
Alabama is the bigger program. The Crimson Tide are a premier Division I team.
Luckily for Clem, she doesn’t have to compete with Murphy on the recruiting trail often. Most of his players come from other states — primarily California, Florida and Georgia.
Because of Alabama’s wide recruiting base, there are plenty of great players available in this state.
Clem knows this. That’s why she targets the best players in north Alabama.
And she usually gets all of them.
With top-notch facilities — a stadium that’s nicer than what most of the state’s four-year programs play in — and a perennial championship contender, Clem has more to offer than her peers.
What other state coach can say they have a perennial national championship contender?
Is there another coach out there that has produced more All-Americans than Clem?
Does another state softball program — other than Alabama — have more to offer a prep senior than Wallace?
Auburn doesn’t. Neither does UAB.
South Alabama? Jacksonville State?
Nope and Nope.
Wallace has more to offer than any of those programs. The Lions could probably beat all of them, too.
That’s why Clem always signs some of the state’s best players — a trend that didn’t change this year.
Just how good was this signing class? Ider High’s Kesha Lipham was named Miss Softball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, and West Morgan High’s Lauren Seibert was the Class 3A Pitcher of the Year.
Clem signed both of them, highlighting a star-studded recruiting class.
No wonder one prep softball expert said Wallace signed the best recruiting class in the state.
Clem has changed the landscape of college softball in Alabama. She’s built a juggernaut at Wallace, and it’s going to be a while before the field catches up.
So when next spring rolls around, look for Wallace to be the favorite in the ACCC …
… Look for Wallace to be in the national title hunt at the end of the season …
… Look for some of the state’s best seniors to head for Hanceville when their prep careers are over.
And when that season is over, expect it to happen all over again.
That’s the caliber of program Clem has at Wallace. The Lions have gotten that big.
‰ Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.
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