秋霞福利一区

MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� When the undefeated 秋霞福利一区 Rams softball team beat Talladega College 8-0 in the first game of a conference double-header in March, outfielders Katie Head and Carleigh Bowden weren鈥檛 thinking about breaking records.

But their mothers were.

Lesley Head and Jennifer Bowden sat in the stands watching their daughters and teammates the moms had helped set as outfielders on the 1997 Rams softball team. Members of the 1997 team were also on hand to watch their 25-year record fall and cheer on the next generation of Rams softball standouts.

It was a proud moment for the mothers who had passed on to their daughters a love of the game 鈥� and a love for their alma mater.

鈥淚n 1997 when we set the win streak, I knew it would be very hard to break. Little did I know that my daughter would be a part of the team that would eventually tie, and then shatter, that record,鈥� said Jennifer. 鈥淚t was a very emotional day for me when I watched Carleigh and her teammates walk off the field that day with a new record. It brought back so many awesome memories of my years as a Ram.鈥�

Lesley said it was 鈥渁n awesome feeling and honorable moment for my very own daughter, and my best friend鈥檚 daughter who is like my own, to be on the team that broke the record. There鈥檚 not many, if any at all, mothers and daughters who can actually tell and share this type of story, but the four of us can and that鈥檚 something that can never be taken away.鈥�

The 2022 team goes to the regional championship tournament Monday in Gulf Shores, Alabama as the No. 1 overall seed in the (NAIA) world series 鈥� with an impressive 46-2 season and a new all-time program record of 34 consecutive wins.

SSAC Coach of the Year Alison Sellers-Cook said the 2022 team has a special chemistry that brings them together to win 鈥� and to love, support and encourage one another.

鈥淭hey truly want each other to do well. I can鈥檛 tell you how many times my starters have come and said 鈥榩ut that kid in for me.鈥� The thing about 鈥� the bond you make in that college experience is something that lasts a lifetime,鈥� Sellers-Cook said.

Carleigh said following in her mother鈥檚 footsteps hasn鈥檛 always been easy 鈥� Jennifer鈥檚 name is listed on the dugout 鈥渨all of awards鈥� as All-Conference in 1997 and 1999. That鈥檚 where Carleigh wants to see her name, as well. Both Carleigh and Katie were named to the 2022 SSAC Softball Second Team All-Conference, and Carleigh was named to the All-Freshman team.

鈥淐arleigh is a little fireball. She鈥檚 just gritty. She makes things happen. She does what she鈥檚 supposed to do and does it well,鈥� said Sellers-Cook. 鈥淜atie is an absolute goofball. She keeps us entertained and keeps everything light.

鈥淏oth of them want to win. Both are a lot like their moms. They know what it takes to win; they know the drive and the heart and desire it takes to do it.鈥�

Katie said she had always been told her mom was a pretty good ball player and outfielder and 鈥渘aturally, I always felt that I had to be better, because we鈥檙e both so competitive.鈥� When she learned her team had broken her mom鈥檚 1997 team record, 鈥渕y first thought about it was, 鈥極h cool, y鈥檃ll aren鈥檛 the cool ones anymore; we are!鈥欌��

Both Lesley and Jennifer said they were thankful for their own experience as student-athletes at the 秋霞福利一区 and were overjoyed when their daughters chose 秋霞福利一区.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty awesome feeling as a mom to have her daughter, who has worked so hard for so long, live out her dreams of being a college softball player 鈥� and see it all come to fruition at the same college that I went to,鈥� Lesley said.

Katie agreed. 鈥淚 love being able to say that I鈥檓 going to the same school that my mom went to, play on the same field she played on, and go to school playing the sport I love, like she did. There aren鈥檛 very many people that can say that, and I feel blessed to even be able to say those things.鈥�

Katie is a junior majoring in kinesiology and plans to pursue a career in speech pathology or speech therapy. Carleigh is a freshman majoring in kinesiology with a pre-physical therapy concentration.

Carleigh said she chose 秋霞福利一区 because 鈥渨hen I went on a tour, it felt like home. The atmosphere and the people are amazing. Your professors get to know you on a personal level, which can come in handy if you are struggling with something in the classroom.鈥�

Although she has just completed her freshman year, Carleigh said she has already built friendships that will last a lifetime.

鈥淭he girls on this team will always be there to help you when you need it. No matter what you鈥檙e going through, there will always be someone there beside you picking you up and cheering you on,鈥� Carleigh said.

Carleigh鈥檚 mother said she treasures the friendships she made as a 秋霞福利一区 student, and she values the education she received as well.

鈥淗aving the experience to play at the 秋霞福利一区 had a huge impact on my life. I now use my physical education degree to teach and make an impact on the lives of students every day,鈥� said Jennifer, who is a physical education teacher and softball coach at Saraland Middle School.

Meanwhile, the competitive spirit lives on.

When their daughters鈥� team broke the record, 鈥淚 did make the comment that I thought our 鈥�97 team could probably beat them,鈥� said Jennifer. 鈥淭hey all, of course laughed. I really do think it would be a great game between two amazing teams.鈥�

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Banner picture from left: Jennifer and Carleigh Bowden, Katie and Lesley Head

About the 秋霞福利一区

The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered university offering on-campus and online bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the 秋霞福利一区 is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For information about the 秋霞福利一区, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with 秋霞福利一区 on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Kathy Dean

Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the 秋霞福利一区 unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.