Jessica Barnes

2005 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll

Outlook
Is healthy and coming off of redshirt season due to shoulder surgery … Should be back in starting rotation … Tough mentality … Adds a different dimension with her presence in the circle.

2005
Redshirted after making only eight appearances due to a season ending shoulder injury … Started seven of those appearances … Threw five complete games and two shutouts … Recorded 40 strikeouts in just 44.2 innings pitched … Picked up her first collegiate win on 2/5/05 against Coastal Carolina in a 1-0 shutout … Was 4-2 when she exited the 2/20 game against Syracuse in the first inning … Earned wins over Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Wisconsin and SE Louisiana.

High School
Four-year letterwinner in softball at Denver East H.S. … Coached by Andy Mendelsberg … As a senior, started all but two games … Led the state in strikeouts and in strikeouts per inning … Threw seven shutouts and four no-hitters … Posted a 0.20 ERA … During her junior year, she pitched a no-hitter in the League Championship to earn the title … Also led the state in strikeouts and strikeouts per inning … Had a 0.45 ERA, five no-hitters and nine shutouts … Advanced to the semi-finals in the playoffs … During sophomore season, started every game, recorded three no-hitters, six shutouts and led the state in strikeouts and strikeouts per inning … Won the League Championship … Recorded batting averages (Sr.) .325, (Jr.) .406, (So.) .389, (Fr.) .225 … Final team records (Sr.) 17-4, (Jr.) 14-7, (So.) 16-6, (Fr.) 17-6 … Three-time Denver Post all-state selection … Three-time Rocky Mountain News all-state selection … Denver Post Athlete of the Week … East H.S. Female Athlete of the Year … Two-time USSSA All-Star … Four-time first team all-Denver Prep League … High school team played in playoffs all four years … Also advanced to regionals all four years … Advanced to semi-finals in 2003 … Played for the Colorado Stampede and won four consecutive state championships … They also placed eighth of 145 teams at nationals in 2003 … National Honor Society nominee, 4.0 GPA.

Personal
Full name is Jessica Lelia Barnes … Nickname is ‘Barnesy’ … Parents are David and Mary Barnes … Is the first member in her family to play a sport in college … Chose USC over Penn State, Kansas, Northern Iowa, Illinois State and Tennessee-Martin … Born Jan. 27, 1986 in Denver, Colo. … Has an older brother John and an older sister Lindsay … Major is journalism.^TMTM

Extra-Innings With Jessica…

What is your goal for the team this season? To improve upon last year in every aspect of the game, and take the season one game at a time.
What is one thing you have always wanted to do? I would love to study abroad…probably in Japan.
What song pumps you up before a game? ‘Girlfight’ by Brooke Valentine
What is the best gift someone could ever give you? A penthouse in NYC overlooking Central Park.
I[apos]d like to be … A college pitching coach.
What have you learned from softball you would like to pass along to others? Never underestimate your opponent!
What is the best advice you were ever given? A smile is contagious.

^TMTM