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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Bath County High School Set To Retire Ford’s Number
9/15/2016 1:08:00 PM | Softball
HARRISONBURG, Va. – After leading James Madison softball to new heights and wrapping up her debut season in National Pro Fastpitch as one of the top rookie pitchers, Jailyn Ford receives another honor to her long list of accolades as her alma mater Bath County High School in Hot Springs, Va. will retire her jersey number on Friday.
Ford's #12 jersey will be retired on Friday prior to Bath County's homecoming football game against Pendleton (WV) High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Ford will be honored as the first female athlete in any sport to have her number retired in the school's history as she led the Chargers to the school's first state championships in any female team sport in back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012.
"The jersey retirement means a lot not only to me, but to the high school and female sports in general," Ford said. "I'm thankful to have spent four years at a great high school and to be able to go back and spend this night with friends, family, former teachers and teammates. I hope this opportunity inspires little girls to continue to chase their aspirations and that it paves a path for future female athletes and sports."
Named the 2012 Virginia Single A State Pitcher of the Year, Ford set a state record with 24 wins over her senior season. The four-time First Team All-State selection also set school records with 1,065 strikeouts and 80 wins, the fifth most all-time in Virginia history. The left-hander dealt the third lowest career era in state history at 0.33.
As a Duke, Ford became the first All-American in school history, while also earning First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors five times. The Hot Springs, Va. native was a two-time CAA Player of the Year and led JMU to three CAA Championships, making four NCAA Regional appearances, including leading the program to its first regional title and first NCAA Super Regional birth in 2016.
Ford closed her career at JMU breaking all-time career records for home runs, runs scored, RBIs, total bases, walks, intentional walks, most wins, shutouts, strikeouts, appearances, innings pitched, batters faced, strikeouts looking and complete games.
Drafted third overall in the first round of the 2016 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers, Ford amassed a 3.84 ERA and a 9-10 record with two saves over her debut season. The left-hander struck out 76 batters and held opponents to a .255 average over 100.1 innings of work.
Ford's #12 jersey will be retired on Friday prior to Bath County's homecoming football game against Pendleton (WV) High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Ford will be honored as the first female athlete in any sport to have her number retired in the school's history as she led the Chargers to the school's first state championships in any female team sport in back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012.
"The jersey retirement means a lot not only to me, but to the high school and female sports in general," Ford said. "I'm thankful to have spent four years at a great high school and to be able to go back and spend this night with friends, family, former teachers and teammates. I hope this opportunity inspires little girls to continue to chase their aspirations and that it paves a path for future female athletes and sports."
Named the 2012 Virginia Single A State Pitcher of the Year, Ford set a state record with 24 wins over her senior season. The four-time First Team All-State selection also set school records with 1,065 strikeouts and 80 wins, the fifth most all-time in Virginia history. The left-hander dealt the third lowest career era in state history at 0.33.
As a Duke, Ford became the first All-American in school history, while also earning First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors five times. The Hot Springs, Va. native was a two-time CAA Player of the Year and led JMU to three CAA Championships, making four NCAA Regional appearances, including leading the program to its first regional title and first NCAA Super Regional birth in 2016.
Ford closed her career at JMU breaking all-time career records for home runs, runs scored, RBIs, total bases, walks, intentional walks, most wins, shutouts, strikeouts, appearances, innings pitched, batters faced, strikeouts looking and complete games.
Drafted third overall in the first round of the 2016 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers, Ford amassed a 3.84 ERA and a 9-10 record with two saves over her debut season. The left-hander struck out 76 batters and held opponents to a .255 average over 100.1 innings of work.
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