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Hurricane postpones Hall induction
Published October 4, 2005
Brazosport graduate Jody Burch Jansevanrensburg was supposed to be inducted into the Illinois State University softball Hall of Fame last month, but Hurricane Rita had other ideas.
Illinois State University was set to induct Jansevanrensburg, a pitcher for the Lady Redbirds softball team from 1993-96, into the school’s hall of fame Sept. 23, but Jansevanren-sburg and her family were unable to make the trip because of the impending arrival of the hurricane.
Her family planned to fly to Illinois on Sept. 22 and return Sept. 25, but news reports of the hurricane heading toward Brazoria County changed all that.
Fortunately for Jansevanrensburg’s family, the school allowed her to postpone her induction until next year.
“I told my coach that she could accept the honor for me and say a few words, but she said, ‘Jody, this is one of those life experiences you don’t want to miss,” Jansevanrensburg said. “I’ll get to go up there next year and accept the award.”
Jansevanrensburg graduated from Brazosport High School in 1991, but the school did not have a softball program. She played on select softball teams throughout high school.
Jansevanrensburg presently conducts pitching lessons in the evenings, but she earned her scholarship to Illinois State as a utility player. She primarily played in the outfield during her freshman season, only pitching four or five games, before getting a chance to pitch more regularly as a sophomore.
It’s a good thing they finally gave Jansevanrensburg the ball, since she became the first softball player in school history to be named an All-American. Jansevanrensburg also was chosen twice as Illinois State’s athlete of the year and was named to the Academic All-American team.
“When you’re a freshman, you’re so gung-ho,” Jansevanrensburg said. “I came back home after the first year and when I went back for my sophomore year, I fell in love with the place. Other than Texas, I think that’s the only place I’d live.”
Now, Jansevanrensburg lives in Clute with her husband, John, and son, John Christian.
Jansevanrensburg credits her teammates with earning the honor for her, because she was “an average pitcher with a good team.”
“My team was really good,” Jansevanrensburg said. “We helped each other a lot. We pumped each other up.”
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Former Brazoswood defensive lineman Clyde Holloway has opened the eyes of Southwest Junior College Football Conference coaches as a redshirt freshman.
Holloway, who plays for Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, was named the Southwest Junior College Football Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19. In the Cardinals’ 27-0 win over Ranger Junior College, Holloway had nine tackles, a sack and blocked a punt to earn the conference’s honor.
Though he was honored for his play against Ranger, Holloway is the team leader in a slew of defensive categories for the 3-1 Cardinals.
Holloway is tied for the team lead with two interceptions and is among the leaders in tackles with 24. His 21/2 sacks also lead the Cardinals.
Holloway was a standout at linebacker for Brazoswood, claiming first-team All-District 24-5A and first-team All-Brazoria County selections in 2003.
Matt Tasler is a sports writer for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0161, or e-mail matt.tasler(at)thefacts.com.
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