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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2004 Mendenhall signs with New Mexico Panthers’ power pitcher excited about prospects with up-and-coming Lobos By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune If ever there was an athlete destined to play softball at the University of New Mexico, it’s Jennifer Mendenhall. The 6-foot senior signed her collegiate letter of intent to pitch for the Division I Lobos on Wednesday at South Medford High, setting in motion yet another reclamation project in an athletic career built on such prowess. Under Mendenhall’s guidance, South Medford has become a formidable force in volleyball and softball after years of frustration. The 18-year-old expects more of the same in Albuquerque, N.M. Advertisement "It’s kinda always been my thing," Mendenhall said of rebuilding programs. "It started with volleyball and then in softball here, we’ve just been building and building and building. I figure this is going to be the same thing. I can still be involved in the building (of a program), and sometimes that can be more fun." The subject of interest for several colleges, Mendenhall said several factors led her to choose New Mexico. "I liked the coach and all the girls on the team," she said, "and they have a really good up-and-coming softball program." New Mexico, which competes in the Mountain West Conference, posted a 25-37-1 record in head coach Kim Newbern’s first season with the team in 2003 and were 30-35 last year. The 2005 roster boasts three junior pitchers and one senior, giving rise to the belief that Mendenhall will be able to step right in and make an impact for the Lobos as a freshman in the 2006 season. "I think she’s going to be very successful at the college level because of her work ethic and her talent and the fact that she’s a good kid, has a great personality and she loves softball," said South softball coach Dan Marshall. "I think those ingredients combine to make her a very successful pitcher at the Division I level." Once featured in the Faces in the Crowd section in Sports Illustrated, Mendenhall has more than made her mark with the Panthers — with a final high school softball campaign still to come. A middle blocker in volleyball, Mendenhall is coming off a senior campaign in which she earned her second straight first-team all-conference honor and helped South qualify for the state playoffs for only the third time in school history. She averaged 4.6 kills, 1.6 blocks and 4.5 digs per game for the Panthers, who finished 17-11 overall and tied for second place in the SOC. South also snapped a 36-match regular-season losing streak to cross-town rival North Medford, and ended up sweeping a two-match series with the Black Tornado for the first time ever. In softball, Mendenhall was named the SOC’s player of the year in 2003 after pitching the Panthers to a share of the league title for the first time since 1992. The then-sophomore compiled what is believed to be the best pitching numbers in SOC history, going 7-0 and not allowing a single run in 47 innings. She struck out 52, walked 10 and permitted only 19 hits in conference play. The right-hander also tossed a perfect game in a 1-0 victory over North, ending the Black Tornado’s 28-game winning streak. Last season, Mendenhall was again voted to the SOC’s first team after notching four wins in league play with an 0.875 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 56 innings. Her 13-strikeout performance in a 1-0 win over Hood River Valley led the 20-8 Panthers to their first playoff win in 10 years. "Jen’s got great technique and she can really throw the ball," said Marshall. "She’s a power pitcher who can really bring it. And she can throw the ball wherever she wants to throw it." Mendenhall, who could also be an all-league basketball player if she put her mind to it, said she was intrigued with the possibility of signing with a smaller school in order to play softball and volleyball, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of something big at New Mexico. "I chose softball because that’s the sport I love," she said. "It’s just always been softball for me. My dad (Monte) was a baseball player and my grandpa was a baseball player. It’s just something I’ve always been around." And something she’s excited about being able to continue for years to come. "I’m really excited," Mendenhall said of securing her future with Wednesday’s signing. "It takes a lot of the stress off me because now I don’t have to worry about the whole college thing and I can just get through my last year of high school and have fun." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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