How Emersyn Jones is clearing fences, propelling Knoch as sophomore
Chris Gardner and his Knoch softball assistant coaches know by now that Emersyn Jones is prone to thump pitches over outfielders’ heads.
Having watched the then-freshman bash 10 home runs last season, they’re aware of her abilities as a power hitter. For a while, they’d just hoped their vehicles, parked nearby, wouldn’t be troubled by them.
Recently, they’ve had to preventative measures.
“We just had batting practice today, and I actually put a girl on the outside of the fence to protect our vehicles,” Gardner said Monday. “I said, ‘Protect our trucks.’ ... We’ve never had a girl hit home runs like that. Two years ago, before Emersyn got here, we didn’t even have a home run as a team.
“This is definitely something new in my coaching years. We’ve got balls leaving the yard like we do, and it’s contagious.”
Gardner estimated Jones, who plays shortstop and pitches, is bashing homers 240 feet or so. Confidence, he said, is no issue for her.
“We do talk about it (like), ‘When you do step into the batter’s box, what are you thinking?’” Gardner said. “Truthfully, she’s thinking she’s taking that ball right back at the pitcher. She steps into that batter’s box every time thinking she’s better than that girl, and she’s gonna hit it.”
Her freshman all-section go-round proved to her that she could club balls pretty far. She led the Knights in batting average (.509), RBIs (37), runs scored (25) and even bopped two homers in one game.
“We kind of just joke about and laugh about it,” Jones said of watching one of her teammates trot so far out. “If I go up, some of the coaches will be like, ‘Emersyn, don’t hit my car.’ I’ll be like, ‘OK, I’ll try not to.’ ... I think if I really wanted to, I think I could.”
At a recent practice, she dinged one of their trucks on the bounce. Don’t worry, though, it didn’t leave a dent.
Gardner has noticed Jones’ focus on improving her pitching. He said she’ll have more of a share in the circle this season than last. Gardner tabs Jones as No. 2 in the pecking order right now, behind senior Marlee Fraser.
Jones said she has a fast-change, screwball, drop curve and rise ball in her arsenal. She rarely hurls fastballs.
“If you had nine Emersyn Joneses on the field, my job would be really easy,” Gardner said. “I don’t have to talk her up. If she makes an error or something didn’t go right, I know she’s already flushed it. It’s already over with. She’s onto the next play.”
Jones kept her first-ever home run ball — one she hit in 10U while playing in West Virginia — but doesn’t look at it much.
“Honestly, after I would get some recognition or something, I would just try and forget about it as quickly as I could and keep doing what I was doing,” Jones said.
