By Thomas Sellers Jr.
On Friday Feb. 18, Munford senior Isabel Jones was in the middle of the action in the school’s cafeteria.
Being in the middle is something the third child of Michael and Tina Jones is used to. Having two older siblings and a pair under her, Isabel knows how it feels to get lost but earn the spotlight from time to time.
Feb. 18 belonged to her as friends, family, coaches and teammates joined Jones for her signing ceremony to become the latest member of the Bluefield State College Big Blue. Growing up in Munford and playing the game since she was 4 years old, reaching the collegiate level became a dream of Jones when she was 10 years old.
“Whenever I was little I used to do gymnastics and softball,” she recalled. “I just took gymnastics out of the picture and stuck with softball because that’s what I liked doing the most. It was the most fun for me and I’ve credited so many lifelong relationships through softball. It’s just fun to me and that’s what I wanted to do until I couldn’t do it anymore.”
Bluefield State Head Coach Rocky Stinson gave Jones that opportunity. Through conversations, Jones felt Stinson was personable and created a level of comfort for her. Growing up in the same house since she was a little girl, Jones said it was very important for her to build that familiarity with Stinson and his program in order to get her to come to West Virginia.
Jones joined her mother Tina for a campus visit and it became official she wanted to become part of the Big Blue.
“I am a little scared to leave but at the same time not really because I am excited to be in a new environment and meet new people,” she said. “It’s definitely going to be different for them and they’re going to be really sad. We are a huge family and we do a lot of stuff together. With me not being home, it will probably be hard for them.”
The next few months will help the Jones family with the transition of Isabel becoming a college softball player. There is a new era for the Lady Cougars with Head Coach Raygan Huffman taking over and working with the Class of 2022 in the overall transition of the program.
“Just being able to work together as a team and win is my main goal,” Jones said. “We just want to be very memorable to the younger girls and just try to do our best. Teammatewise I’ve always had the support of Lacey, Claire, Lilly and Shelby. Coach Raygan pushes us to do our best and builds us up. She gives us confidence.
Outside of the team and her coaches, Jones’ family has been the key to her reaching her dream. Her older brother is there to guide her with advice and her big sister was her first true role model.
Isabel keeps in mind her two younger siblings are watching and see her as that role model.Then comes her biggest cheerleader and the woman who taught her how to nurture her pitching staff.
“My mom, even besides softball, I know she will support me no matter what,” she said. “I know that she’s definitely happy I am playing softball and doing what I want to. For having her support knowing no matter what she’s always going to be there. It’s really helped me knowing that I have her here.
”And the man who planted the athletic seed in her and helped to cultivate it over the years gets credit for inspiring Jones to reach her dream.
“My dad has always been a very sporty guy,” she said with a smile. “He has coached little rec leagues. And he’s always played every single sport growing up. Ever since I was little it’s been me and him. It’s softball doing this or that. He takes me to hit or makes sure I have everything I need for softball.
“And I know he wanted to be able to play football in college but couldn’t,” Jones concluded. “So me being able to play my sport in college makes me feel pretty good and makes me think I’ve made him proud.”
