COLLEGE SOFTBALL: WAVERLY'S JENNER SIGNS TO PLAY AT BROCKPORT (2021-03-26)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWAVERLY "” Waverly senior Hali Jenner knew SUNY Brockport was the place she wanted to be the first time she stepped on campus. On Friday, she signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play softball for the Eagles.
"I visited the (Brockport) campus last year, and I just loved it," she said. "The coach reached out to me, and I just knew it was the one."
Jenner said she's worked hard to get where she's at.
"I didn't start my freshman year, but I worked hard and earned my starting spot," she said. "I started as a sophomore, and I've worked hard ever since.
"(During Covid), I stayed at home, worked in the garage, and pitched all the time," Jenner noted. "I never gave up, I hoped for the best to get this season in."
Jenner said she'll continue to put in the work as she prepares for the next level.
"I'll definitely be pitching everyday, and hitting every day as well," she said. "I have to get outside when the warmer weather hits and get some ground balls and pop flies."
Waverly coach Brian Wendela believes Jenner will be a big addition to the Brockport program.
"Hali is a great-student athlete, and that's going to take her farther in life than anything else," he said.
"She's one off the hardest working girls I've been able to coach in my short time at Waverly," said Wendela. "She's the type of leader you want on a team.
"She's one of the better players in our area, and as a coach I'm lucky to have her on my team.
"Hali us going to do very well at the next level," added Wendela. "She has a lot to offer Brockport."
Jenner attributes her time with the Valley Storm travel softball program as an integral part of her success.
"it's definitely helped a lot," she said. "The grind never stops. you're always working. I never want it to end."
Valley Storm founder Chris Bennett, who coached Jenner for nine years in the program, believes she'll be successful at the next level.
"She'll be successful because of her work ethic," said Bennett. "Hali wants to be pushed ... she told me "˜I need structure to be successful. I don't want down time.'
"I've coached Hail since she was 9 years old ... when you show her something, she picks it up quick, then she works until she perfects it," added Bennett. "Then, she keeps working on it even after that."
Both of her coaches know Jenner still has things to work on.
"Just like any high school athlete moving to. the next level, (Hali) is going to have to get use to the speed of the game," said Wendela. "She will need to get a little faster, a little quicker, and a little stronger."
"I think she needs to work on her hitting, seeing the ball a little better against better pitching," said Bennett. "More than anything, it will be the mental part of the game for Hali.
"It's going to be a little different for her to face everyone's No.1 or 2 pitchers every game," he added. "She'll need to get use to girls throwing change-ups and screwballs in counts that aren't expected."
Jenner will major in Nursing.
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IN PHOTO 1: Hali Jenner. IN PHOTO 2: Seated Hali Jenner. Standing, from left: parents Tony and Lisa Jenner, and brother Cole Jenner. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
