By John Tranchina

Callie Chapman, a three-sport athlete at Jones High School, aims to be the best teammate she can be and is motivated to win championships. She demonstrates her self-confidence by suggesting that everyone should remember her name.

Chapman, who just completed her freshman year at Jones, participates in cross country, softball, and track & field but appears to love softball the most, noting that the biggest highlight moment of her career so far was the first day she stepped onto the softball field. 

Besides her dad, who “has always been my biggest support,” Chapman points out that the University of Oklahoma starting catcher Kinzie Hansen, who recently helped the Sooners win the Women’s College World Series, was a role model that she looks up to.

“Watching her battle through a hitting slump, like how I had to, really let me know that everyone has bad days and hitting slumps,” said Chapman, who also plays catcher, along with middle infield and third base.

In her mind, Chapman’s athletic achievements are primarily due to “hard work, dedication and missing out on birthday parties.”

Chapman, who is also in choir, recognizes that everyone is important to team success and that batting against each other in practice helps them all improve.

“I want everyone to get better and compete,” she says. “Everyone is appreciated and welcome on the team.”

Chapman loves winning against every team she plays, but there’s one club softball squad she enjoys beating most of all.

“Everyone, but especially the Outlaws, because we know them well, because of how much we play against them, and they’re a good team,” she said. 

Jones went 18-14 in fast-pitch softball last season, advancing to the Class 3A Regional tournament before finally falling to eventual state quarterfinalist Comanche. Chapman hopes the Longhorns improve on that finish this coming season.