Wahawk Athletics

7/27/2011 - Written By: Tony Atzeni, Iowa Sports Connection
Category: High School Sports

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Sports Connection has released their 2011 Iowa High School Softball All-State teams. Also named are the Player, Pitcher and Coach of the Year in each of the four classes. 

In Class 4A Jadyn Spencer (Waterloo West) was named the Player of the Year while Riley Fisher (Des Moines East) was named the Pitcher of the Year. Amy Farmer (Ankeny) was named the Class 4A Coach of the Year. Spencer led 4A in batting (.625), home runs (17), base on balls (73) and stolen bases (44). Spencer was also tops in strikeouts (384) and 3^rdin E.R.A (0.84) while posting a 25-9 record this season. Fisher was 23-3 this season with an E.R.A of 1.13 and was 2^nd in strikeouts with 232 and also was in the top ten in home runs (13) and runs batted in (48). 

Written by John Naughton (Des Moines Register) 
                    JNAUGHTON@DMREG.COM

Waterloo, Ia. — Jadyn Spencer pounded a state record 54 homers in her five-year softball slugging career. But don’t expect her to have a huge collection of her home runs balls on display. 

Spencer, a Waterloo West graduate, has just two home run souvenirs at home. There’s her first one from 2007 when she homered in her first varsity game. The other is inscribed “Career Homerun #50.” 

The rest of the softballs launched over the fence mostly ended up in the hands of little girls who admire the hitter’s talents. Spencer autographed many of them, then handed them away. 

“You don’t really need those,” Spencer said. “What I have is memories from teammates. If that ball can be used to motivate a young girl, you’ve just got to take advantage of that opportunity.” 

Spencer has been one to take advantage of opportunities in life — in becoming a three-sport star, an eager volunteer and a star student. 

The Alabama recruit’s home run tally from ninth to 12th grade is 48, which is the fifth best in the nation. 

She didn’t always have the swing of a slugger. 

“On our traveling team, I would bunt every time,” Spencer said. “I couldn’t make contact.” 

That changed when a local hitting instructor, Kevin McClain, taught her how to hit with power in junior high. 

“He’s really the one who taught me to swing,” Spencer said. “I re-learned how to hit the ball.” 

Her parents, Marvin and Joni, took her to the West batting facilities nearby their home for plenty of practice. 

They also encouraged her studies: Spencer graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average and valedictorian honors. 

“My parents instilled in me that academics are first — and you can play later,” said Spencer, who said she plans to study pharmacy in college. 

Spencer is an active volunteer, serving at the local Food Bank. 

She’s served in student government and helps out new students in the West High hallways. 

“Being a role model is something not everyone has the opportunity to have,” Spencer said. 

In sports, she earned all-state honors in basketball. She’s also the Iowa Gatorade player of the year in softball. 

And to those accomplishments — a state shot put championship. 

In the dugout, she’s always been helpful to teammates seeking advice, much like she supports autograph seekers by giving away home run balls. 

“It wouldn’t be fair to anyone younger if I didn’t pass on that knowledge,” Spencer said.