How good is Sheldon High School softball ace pitcher Jolene Henderson?
The senior earned high school All-American status in this season; she’s the two-time Sac-Joaquin Section player of the year; and her Lady Huskies have won back-to-back section championships.
But, most of the national accolades were laid at Henderson’s feet prior to the 2009 softball season. She participated in a high school softball game last July in Orlando, Fla., along with teammate Lindsey Ziegenhirt, aired on ESPNU. She led her offseason team, the Lady Magic, to a national championship trophy (Interestingly, Pleasant Grove’s ace, Ally Carda, also pitched alongside her on that team).
Last November, Henderson signed a letter of intent, as did Ziegenhirt, to attend Cal this fall on a softball scholarship.
Now, this illustrious pair, along with younger sister, Danielle, are beginning the march towards what will cap as remarkable a high school career as anyone has had around here, no matter the sport.
The Lady Huskies were 12-0 entering Spring Break and, despite a schedule of games with some of the top softball teams in California, few opponents have found the secret to hitting a ball solidly off Henderson.
Opponents are batting just .034 off her.
Henderson’s ERA is still 0.00. Only two runs - both unearned - were scored against her and they came in the season opener, a 5-2 win over Oak Ridge, the Division II favorite to win sections this season.
That’s not all.
Henderson has allowed only nine hits in those 12 games. She’s averaging 11 strikeouts and one walk per game. And, she isn’t pitching every inning of every game, either. Her “pitcher-in-waiting”, freshman Alexis Cooper, has come on in relief in four games and she hasn’t surrendered an earned run.
And these 12 opponents haven’t been too shabby. They include state-ranked teams such as Pleasant Grove, Freedom of Oakley, Canyon from Anaheim, Camarillo and Simi Valley.
So, what has made Jolene so unhittable?
Henderson says it’s not that she’s really that much better, but rather the defense around her is solid.
“I think the competition level is up and with that our team’s confidence level to not only compete but also win is really up,” Henderson said. “My goal is to not only dominate (the opponent) but leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that we should be where we are.”
Her coach, Mary Jo Truesdale, thinks Henderson is pitching as good right now as she ever has.
“And, I think she’s improving,” Truesdale commented. “She and Lindsey are working so well together and I think it’s the two of them working in concert that really makes the difference.”
Truesdale says this unprecedented level of excellence has rubbed off on the other Sheldon players.
“They bring out the best in our team because our team is so young,” she said.
So what is Henderson’s secret? What makes her so effective?
“I’m very, very competitive,” she commented. “I’m different on the field than I am off the field. When I’m on the field I’m really intense and ready to play. When I’m just hanging out, I’m really a fun person. But, when I’m on the mound, I’m bouncing up and down because it makes me ready to play. My mental mindset is always the same, even when the pressure is on.”
Truesdale takes the analysis a bit further.
“She definitely doesn’t just ‘serve it up.’ She stretches the edges (of the plate),” Truesdale said. “ She keeps it there and that’s what her job is.”
Plus, Truesdale says Henderson has matured to the point where she can almost coach herself.
“She is at that level right now where she knows what she has to do,” Truesdale explained. “That’s her maturity now. If something isn’t working quite right, she knows what to do to fix it.”
So, could Sheldon be this good if Henderson was to sustain an injury and thus, not be able to play?
“Oh, yes, I think so, “Truesdale said. “Hopefully, she would still be there and Lindsey would be there to provide the leadership. We do have another pitcher. We have great defense and we have great offense. Alexis Cooper throws a great ball and we’re hoping to give her some time on the mound as our season progresses. I have the confidence we can still win.”
If Sheldon gets into another situation like it did twice in the 13-inning thriller with Pleasant Grove last week with the winning run at third base, what pitch would Henderson likely throw?
“Depending on the umpire, likely the rise ball. I’d throw it so that it would look like it is coming down the middle but it would end up at their shoulders,” she said. “They’d swing and miss.”
That’s happened a lot the past four years at Sheldon. It might be hard for the Lady Huskies to find anyone else who can do it that well again.
The senior earned high school All-American status in this season; she’s the two-time Sac-Joaquin Section player of the year; and her Lady Huskies have won back-to-back section championships.
But, most of the national accolades were laid at Henderson’s feet prior to the 2009 softball season. She participated in a high school softball game last July in Orlando, Fla., along with teammate Lindsey Ziegenhirt, aired on ESPNU. She led her offseason team, the Lady Magic, to a national championship trophy (Interestingly, Pleasant Grove’s ace, Ally Carda, also pitched alongside her on that team).
Last November, Henderson signed a letter of intent, as did Ziegenhirt, to attend Cal this fall on a softball scholarship.
Now, this illustrious pair, along with younger sister, Danielle, are beginning the march towards what will cap as remarkable a high school career as anyone has had around here, no matter the sport.
The Lady Huskies were 12-0 entering Spring Break and, despite a schedule of games with some of the top softball teams in California, few opponents have found the secret to hitting a ball solidly off Henderson.
Opponents are batting just .034 off her.
Henderson’s ERA is still 0.00. Only two runs - both unearned - were scored against her and they came in the season opener, a 5-2 win over Oak Ridge, the Division II favorite to win sections this season.
That’s not all.
Henderson has allowed only nine hits in those 12 games. She’s averaging 11 strikeouts and one walk per game. And, she isn’t pitching every inning of every game, either. Her “pitcher-in-waiting”, freshman Alexis Cooper, has come on in relief in four games and she hasn’t surrendered an earned run.
And these 12 opponents haven’t been too shabby. They include state-ranked teams such as Pleasant Grove, Freedom of Oakley, Canyon from Anaheim, Camarillo and Simi Valley.
So, what has made Jolene so unhittable?
Henderson says it’s not that she’s really that much better, but rather the defense around her is solid.
“I think the competition level is up and with that our team’s confidence level to not only compete but also win is really up,” Henderson said. “My goal is to not only dominate (the opponent) but leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that we should be where we are.”
Her coach, Mary Jo Truesdale, thinks Henderson is pitching as good right now as she ever has.
“And, I think she’s improving,” Truesdale commented. “She and Lindsey are working so well together and I think it’s the two of them working in concert that really makes the difference.”
Truesdale says this unprecedented level of excellence has rubbed off on the other Sheldon players.
“They bring out the best in our team because our team is so young,” she said.
So what is Henderson’s secret? What makes her so effective?
“I’m very, very competitive,” she commented. “I’m different on the field than I am off the field. When I’m on the field I’m really intense and ready to play. When I’m just hanging out, I’m really a fun person. But, when I’m on the mound, I’m bouncing up and down because it makes me ready to play. My mental mindset is always the same, even when the pressure is on.”
Truesdale takes the analysis a bit further.
“She definitely doesn’t just ‘serve it up.’ She stretches the edges (of the plate),” Truesdale said. “ She keeps it there and that’s what her job is.”
Plus, Truesdale says Henderson has matured to the point where she can almost coach herself.
“She is at that level right now where she knows what she has to do,” Truesdale explained. “That’s her maturity now. If something isn’t working quite right, she knows what to do to fix it.”
So, could Sheldon be this good if Henderson was to sustain an injury and thus, not be able to play?
“Oh, yes, I think so, “Truesdale said. “Hopefully, she would still be there and Lindsey would be there to provide the leadership. We do have another pitcher. We have great defense and we have great offense. Alexis Cooper throws a great ball and we’re hoping to give her some time on the mound as our season progresses. I have the confidence we can still win.”
If Sheldon gets into another situation like it did twice in the 13-inning thriller with Pleasant Grove last week with the winning run at third base, what pitch would Henderson likely throw?
“Depending on the umpire, likely the rise ball. I’d throw it so that it would look like it is coming down the middle but it would end up at their shoulders,” she said. “They’d swing and miss.”
That’s happened a lot the past four years at Sheldon. It might be hard for the Lady Huskies to find anyone else who can do it that well again.
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