Senior Night, Throw Back Night, Johnny Jones Field dedication…What a night!

Barry Byers Posted April 17, 2014 5:00pm Lady Gladiator Softball

Image: Lady Gladiator alumni softball players pose with their former coach, Johnny Jones (bottom right), who had the field dedicated to him on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Players pictured are (top row) daughter JoAnn “JoJo” Jones-Miller, Sarah DeMoss-Fulfer, Christie Carter-Enriquez, Megann Lewis-Harlow, Mistie Carter-Saxon, Marquisha Burkhalter-Jeng, Rachel Adams and Ashley Vargas.
(Bottom row) Crystal Langley-Lopez, Courtnei Threadgill, Kaitlin Morrison and Holly Alvarez. — Lady Gladiator alumni softball players pose with their former coach, Johnny Jones (bottom right), who had the field dedicated to him on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Players pictured are (top row) daughter JoAnn “JoJo” Jones-Miller, Sarah DeMoss-Fulfer, Christie Carter-Enriquez, Megann Lewis-Harlow, Mistie Carter-Saxon, Marquisha Burkhalter-Jeng, Rachel Adams and Ashley Vargas.
(Bottom row) Crystal Langley-Lopez, Courtnei Threadgill, Kaitlin Morrison and Holly Alvarez. (Barry Byers)

Italy — With a long list of special events on tap during the Lady Gladiators’ final home game of the 2014 season, Italy’s ladies were primed to to get the job done against visiting Avalon to ensure the Lady Eagles wouldn’t foil the night. A night that was actually 3 nights in one…

Senior Night:
Prior to the game, Italy honored its senior players and managers with the team’s lone senior Paige Westbrook being escorted by her parents, Angie Westbrook and Kelly Westbrook. Senior scorekeeper/song selector Monserrat Figueroa and senior bookkeeper Taylor Turner were also introduced to the fans with all three receiving a rousing applause. Thanks ladies for all your efforts this season and over your careers!

Throwback Night:
The Lady Gladiators sported throwback uniforms to honor Italy’s past teams and alumni players that were on hand to be a part of the field dedication ceremonies for their former coach, Johnny Jones. The first Lady Gladiator pitcher in the team’s history, Tessa Tovar South, served up the ceremonial first pitch before the game with senior catcher Paige Westbrook behind the plate.

A Game?:
Sort of lost in all the festivities was the actual ballgame between Italy and Avalon. After a scoreless first-inning, it was all Italy the rest of the way who went on to shutout the visiting Lady Eagles, 15-0.

Senior Walk:
After Italy’s win, the current players joined teammate Paige Westbrook in the outfield where the senior removed her 4 foot by 4 foot softball sign. With Westbrook leading the team’s traditional Senior Walk, the team formed rows based on classification and followed their senior from the centerfield scoreboard, all the way to home plate and into the playoffs!

Field Dedication:
Following Italy’s 15-0 win over the Avalon Lady Eagles, his name was unveiled and the crowd cheered!!! There it was, prominently displayed atop the Lady Gladiator scoreboard, “Johnny Jones Field,” painted in white letters. Coach Jones then stepped out on the diamond where he received hug after hug from his former and current players. Afterwards, everyone scrambled around for pictures, perused thru yearbooks and enjoyed sampling a pair of decorated cakes and having some punch. Many alumni players couldn’t resist the pull of the field and soon went to pitching and hitting. After all, a diamond is a softball girl’s best friend.

Alumni Lady Gladiator #11 Marquisha Burkhalter-Jeng had this to say on behalf of Coach Jones, “I’m not going to lie, I was a terrible softball player. But Coach Johnny Jones had a way of making all of us feel special.”

It was a special moment for Coach Johnny Jones who shared the moment with his daughter #4 JoAnn “JoJo” Jones-Miller who was Italy’s very first Lady Gladiator all-state softball player back in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

Congratulations to Coach Jones and to the entire Lady Gladiator Softballf who have been a part of the program’s incredible journey since 1998, and who now have an official home field advantage at Johnny Jones Field.

Alumni Lady Gladiator players in attendance:

Alumni Lady Gladiator	Jersey #	Position	Year Graduated
JoAnn “JoJo” Jones-Miller	4	CF	2003
Ashley Vargas	7	LF	2003
Holly Alvarez	3	3B	2003
Kaitlyn Morrison	43	P	2004
Rachel Adams	1	2B, 1B	2004
Crystal Lopez-Langley	10	OF	2004
Sarah “DeMo” DeMoss-Fulfer	2	SS	2006
Marquisha Burkhalter-Jeng	11	LF	2006
Christie Carter-Enriquez	33	3B	2007
Mistie Saxon	00	1B	2007
Megann Lewis-Harlow	4	P	2007

Current Lady Gladiator Players:

#1 Bailey Eubank
#2 Madison Washington
#3 Cassidy Childers
#4 Britney Chambers
#5 Tara Wallis
#6 Ashlyn Jacinto
#8 Hannah Washington
#9 Lillie Perry
#10 Paige Westbrook, Senior
#15 Jaclynn Lewis
#16 Amber Hooker
#17 Brooke DeBorde
#14 Kelsey Nelson
#18 April Lusk
#19 Lizzie Garcia

Coaches:

Wayne Rowe — Head Coach
Johnny Jones
Tina Richards
Michael Chambers

Managers:

Monserrat Figueroa — Home Scoreboard, Music
Taylor Turner — Game Stats
Brycelen Richards

Congrats, Coach Jones, Paige, Monserrat and Taylor!

The lone Lady Gladiator 2014 senior Paige Westbrook(10) is ready to play her final home game. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator senior scorekeeper/music producer, Monserrat Figueroa is honored before their start of the final home game between Italy and Avalon. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator senior bookkeeper Taylor Turner is honored before their start of the final home game between Italy and Avalon. (Barry Byers)

Senior Lady Gladiator Paige Westbrook(10) prepares to walk out with her parents Angie Westbrook and Kelly Westbrook with her teammates backing her and her family up in support. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lady Gladiator senior scorekeeper Monserrat Figueroa, senior first-baseman/catcher Paige Westbrook(10) and senior bookkeeper Taylor Turner were honored before the start of their final home game. (Barry Byers)

Proud parents Kelly Westbrook and Angie Westbrook pose with their daughter Paige Westbrook(10) who is about to play her final home game as a Lady Gladiator softball player. (Barry Byers)

Alumni Lady Gladiator softball player Tessa Tovar South, honors the flag, along with coaches Johnny Jones and Michael Chambers, before she handled the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. (Barry Byers)

Current Lady Gladiators Madison Washington and Jaclynn Lewis support Tessa Tovar South, who was the first Lady Gladiator softball pitcher to take the mound back in 1998. South threw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of the field dedication ceremonies for her former head coach Johnny Jones. (Barry Byers)

What a night! The current Lady Gladiators honored their seniors, honored their former teams by wearing throwback uniforms and were part of the field dedication ceremonies with current assistant coach Johnny Jones being honored. And the night got even better with Italy shutting out visiting Avalon 15-0 to sweep the Lady Eagles in district play. Pictured on the back row (L-R): Brooke DeBorde, Amber Hooker, Ashlyn Jacinto, Madison Washington, Hannah Washington, Paige Westbrook, Jaclynn Lewis, April Lusk and Lizzie Garcia. Front row (L-R): Britney Chambers, Tara Wallis, Kelsey Nelson, Cassidy Childers and Bailey Eubank. (Barry Byers)

Coach Johnny Jones is greeted by his daughter and his former player, JoAnn Jones-Miller, before being congratulated by more of his former players after having his name unveiled atop the Lady Gladiator scoreboard. (Barry Byers)

Marquisha Burkhalter-Jeng offers Coach Jones a congratulatory hug. (Barry Byers)

Sarah DeMoss gives Coach Jones a hug and a pat on the back. (Barry Byers)

Coach Johnny Jones and his daughter JoAnn Jones-Miller after the unveiling of his name atop the Lady Gladiator scoreboard. The Italy softball field was officially named Johnny Jones Field on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. The pillow he is holding was made with the very first jersey that the Lady Gladiators wore back in 1998. (Barry Byers)

Alumni and current Lady Gladiator softball players join together in the huddle in a display of team unity that stretches across generations. (Barry Byers)

Alumni Lady Gladiator #43 Kaitlin Morrison is receives special recognition from current Lady Gladiator Bailey Eubank(43). (Barry Byers)

Just like old times! Courtnie Threadgill shows that she still has her all-state form while tapping a few pitches from Lady Gladiator assistant softball coach Michael Chambers. (Barry Byers)

Cake of dreams… (Barry Byers)

A second cake to honor the Coach of the hour, Johnny Jones. (Barry Byers)

Five of Italy’s all-state players were on hand for the field dedication including JoAnn Jones-Miller, Sarah DeMoss-Fulfer, Courtnie Threadgill, Kaitlyn Morrison and Jaclynn Lewis. Megan Richards and Alyssa Richards were with their college teams and unable to attend the event. (Barry Byers)

Here’s my name! Her’e mine!! Italy’s all-state players point out their names on a banner recently mounted on the outfield fence to honor their accomplishments. (Barry Byers)

Crystal Langley-Lopez, Sarah DeMoss-Fulfer and Christie Carter-Enriquez enjoy perusing thru the old yearbooks and team photos. (Barry Byers)

Mistie Carter-Saxon writes a note on a banner to be presented to her former coach, Johnny Jones. (Barry Byers)

Congratulations to Lady Gladiator assistant coach Johnny Jones who will always have a place in our hearts and who will always be remembered after having the Italy softball field officially named Johnny Jones Field! (Barry Byers)