Jersey Tannehill is wrapping up her career with Taylor softball.
Tannehill is the Trojans’ first baseman with 338 POs, 10 assists and 10 double plays, giving her a .983 fielding percentage for the current season.
From the batter’s box, she has tallied 26 RBIs, six doubles, one triple and one home run.
Tannehill has stepped into her seniority as a role model for her teammates.
“People look up to her because she does what she says she's going to do; that’s leadership by example,” head coach Doug Gower said. “She doesn't have to be that person that's going to be vocal all the time. She just does what she says.”
Tannehill’s leadership abilities come from years of experience and a role model of her own.
She said she started playing softball around the age of four, growing up with one of the best coaches in the world, her dad.
“My dad only really coached me when I was younger, so I don't know if that counts, but definitely just his coaching through the years, not actually as my head coach but just (coaching) me outside of the actual practices and games at home and stuff. It's had a big impact,” Tannehill said.
She also acknowledged Gower and the Trojans’ former head coach Jessica Brown.
What she respected most about Brown was her competitive nature and graceful leadership. She appreciated the intentionality Brown had for investing in each player’s life, personally and spiritually as followers of Christ.
She said Gower has helped focus on the positive and take a new perspective.
“Coach G just always brings a happy energy; he always keeps things light and reminds us that softball isn’t our whole life, and the sun is going to come out tomorrow even if (we) lose a game,” Tannehill said. “He keeps the fun aspect of the game alive…it’s not all about wins and losses; it’s more about the experience and the memories that you make.”
During her collegiate career, Tannehill has been awarded CoSIDA Academic All-District, CSC Academic All-District, Academic All-Crossroads and an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Gower said Tannehill is an extremely hard worker when it comes to both her academics and softball. He said he expects those qualities and characteristics to carry her far in life.
Fellow senior Aleyah Rastetter, the Trojans’ center fielder and now the Taylor record holder for walks with 77, shared some of her observations of Tannehill’s caring and dependable nature.
“I'm not going to use one word. Honestly, Jersey is all around just a stellar human being,” Rastetter said. “I've been super thankful for her… she’s extremely loyal. She's always there for her people, and she'll drop anything for those people. You can trust her with anything.”
When Tannehill and Rastetter stepped foot on Gudakunst Field as freshmen it wasn’t the first time they had met. The two happened to have their official visit on the same day and have traversed Taylor’s campus as roommates every year since.
The two reflected on their Taylor tenure and the lessons and important truths they have learned and will take into their next chapters of life.
“I feel like growing up you finally realize that things aren’t just freely given to you, and that sounds kind of harsh, but being at Taylor has really emphasized hard work. Whether that’s getting a position or getting a good grade in class, I have to (do it), nobody else is going to do it for me,” Rastetter said.
Tannehill said one of the most valuable lessons she has learned is to cherish every moment, especially in her last year. She has learned not to beat herself up over her performance or stats because, in the end, she’s not going to remember that. She’s going to remember the relationships she built with her teammates.
Coach Gower shared his advice for the two seniors as well as the team’s senior manager Makenna Ricker to consider as they depart from Taylor.
“Just be the confident young ladies that (you) are. (You) have a voice, so whatever profession and or what (you) choose to do in life, just use the skills that you've gathered,” he said.
