Oak Ridge Today

Hackworth, of Oliver Springs, named head softball coach at Roane State

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Jessie Hackworth

Jessie Hackworth

 

Jessica Hackworth has been named Roane State Community College’s head softball coach.

She had served as the interim coach. Hackworth succeeds Sue Niemi, who has taken a student services position at the college.

Hackworth, who is from Oliver Springs, was a Roane State assistant coach for five years. In addition to coaching duties, she organized remodeling of the softball locker room, ran fall tournaments, and worked closely with players to ensure their academic success. Roane State softball players have received numerous conference honors for their academic performance. [Read more…]

True grit: Roane State softball player Briar Mays refuses to let cancer stand in her way

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Roane State softball player Briar Mays, left, is undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer but intends to return to the squad in the spring. She is pictured with teammate Kacee Hedrick. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State softball player Briar Mays, left, is undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer but intends to return to the squad in the spring. She is pictured with teammate Kacee Hedrick. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Briar Mays said she started noticing it last September—her right leg and hip were hurting.

During warm-ups and workouts as a freshman member of the Roane State Community College women’s softball team, Briar said she had to use her arms to pull her legs up for some exercises.

Physical therapy was recommended and undertaken, but that didn’t help ease the pain.

Still, the 18-year-old former standout for Forrest High School’s softball team in tiny Chapel Hill, Tennessee, finished out last fall’s season for the Roane State squad, playing left field.

It was only after an MRI in January that Briar received the devastating news: she had cancer. [Read more…]

Sign up today for Roane State Softball Camp, June 24-25

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Roane State Community College Harriman Campus

The main Roane State Community College campus in Harriman.

Roane State Community College’s Softball Camp will be held June 24-25 at the softball field across from the main campus in Harriman.

The camp schedule includes sessions on fundamental hitting (June 24, 9 a.m.-noon, grades 4-7), advanced hitting (June 24, 1-4 p.m., grades 8-12), fundamental defense (June 25, 9 a.m.-noon, grades 4-7) and advanced defense (June 25, 1-4 p.m., grades 8-12). Each session costs $60.

Campers should bring shorts or softball pants, T-shirt, helmet, glove, softball bat, and cleats or tennis shoes.

The registration deadline is June 23. Campers will receive a Roane State softball T-shirt. To register, contact head softball coach Sue Niemi ((865) 882-4574 or niemisl@roanestate.edu) or assistant coach Jessica Hackworth ((865) 354-3000, ext. 4929, or hackworthjl@roanestate.edu).