Former Rio Grande pitching ace Jenna Jones begins her second season overseeing Shawnee State's pitching staff after a fantastic start to her collegiate coaching career in 2024 that included the best record for the program in 25 years (36-11 in 2024), along with a River States Conference East Division Championship and a River States Conference Runner-Up finish.
Despite losing co-ace pitcher Emma Wargel to a season-ending injury, Jones' terrific pitching knowledge still led to Shawnee State enjoying a highly successful campaign on the mound. Cassie Berry led the way by going 16-3 inside the circle with a 1.90 ERA while Amariah Hoerner, a second-semester transfer into the SSU softball program who ultimately became Shawnee State's No. 2 pitcher, went 11-4 with a 3.78 ERA. Berry was ultimately named as a First-Team All-RSC honoree after posting Shawnee State's lowest individual pitching ERA since 2010 (Katie Daniel), while Berry and Hoerner were each named as College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honorees following the conclusion of the 2024 season.
A four-year starter at Rio Grande, Jones' worst season, if one wants to even call it a worst season, at Rio Grande was her freshman campaign -- an effort that led to an 18-14 overall mark with a 2.54 ERA in 196 innings pitched and First-Team All-Mid-South Conference honors as well as the Mid-South Conference's Freshman of the Year accolades.
Over her final three seasons pitching for the RedStorm, Jones notched a 46-14 overall record inside the circle with ERA marks of 1.83, 1.38, and 1.91 in each of her final three campaigns. She earned First-Team All-River States Conference honors in each of Rio Grande's first three seasons in the conference, and won the conference's Pitcher of the Year honors in 2016, her junior campaign while earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-America honors in that same year.
Ultimately, the RedStorm went 154-67 in Jones' four seasons, with Jones herself posting a 64-28 overall record in 612-and-two-thirds innings pitched. In 91 starts, Jones threw 68 complete games with 18 shutouts to boot.
"Kristen is one of the people that I give credit for my entire career," Jones said. "She recruited me at a time in my life where I was going to make a big mistake just because I wanted to belong. She was persistent in recruiting me and I am forever greatful that she continued to come to one more game. Her energy is so contagious. Her love for the game has not dimmed one bit. I am excited to learn everything I can from her but to also be an example for her to use for these girls. When I got to college, Kristen actually was the one who reminded me that my job was to let them hit it and trust the team that I had behind me. That was powerful."
Along with her success on the softball diamond, Jones was a standout on the soccer pitch as well. A two-time All-River States Conference defensive back, Jones was named Second-Team All-RSC as a junior and First-Team All-RSC as a senior. She helped Rio Grande obtain winning records in both 2014 (12-6) as well as 2017 (10-9-1).
