The Foundation of USA Softball

Senior pitcher Beth Pilgrim and the Jags took their first steps together in building South Alabama’s softball program in 2006 and continue to build today.

Just four years ago, South Alabama launched its inaugural softball season. The Jags selected former University of Mobile Coach Becky Clark, to tackle the formidable task of building a team from the ground up.

To set the foundation for Jags softball, Coach Clark sought one highly recruited pitcher by the name of Beth Pilgrim. Pilgrim, in Clark’s eyes, was the key for a foundation that’s still being laid four years later.

“In softball, success starts in pitching,” Clark said. “It was very important to have someone that was experienced on the mound and has played in the big games.”

Clark was referencing Pilgrim’s historic career at Escambia High School, where the pitcher and her squad won three district and two regional championships. Putting it simply, Pilgrim is a winner.

The Florida native signed with South Alabama in 2006 as one of the first members of the Jaguar softball team. When asked what other schools she was looking at, Pilgrim emphatically replied, “None.”

“I absolutely knew for sure that I wanted to come to South Alabama, and I chased it very hard.”

While the task was new, becoming a part of a fresh and unknown program came as more of an opportunity than a challenge to the ace pitcher.

“It was an exciting chance to make South Alabama prestigious in softball,” Pilgrim said “Starting out with a fresh program actually came to me much easier than trying to fit in with another team and other players. At South, all the girls were new, and we all came in with the same goal and came together really quick.”

Pilgrim made her presence felt her first year with a winning record of 10-8, including 14 complete games and six shutouts. In such a critical time for both the newly born program and freshman athlete, her success was a key.

“We really wanted to get out on the right foot and get people excited about the program,” Clark said.

After posting a remarkable 36-win opening season, both the Jags and Pilgrim were headed in the right direction. Over the next several seasons, Pilgrim’s success exploded, especially during her junior season in which she finished with a 17-14 record and posted a 1.29 ERA, ranking her 20th in the nation in this combination. She fanned 226 batters and contributed four saves out of the bullpen in her 44 appearances. South Alabama and Coach Clark’s gamble was paying off.

Aside from her statistical success as a starting pitcher, Pilgrim has also emerged as a team leader.

“Beth brought us the leadership we needed to get this program moving in the right direction,” Clark said. “She’s done all the hard stuff we’ve asked her to do and has done it with a great attitude and work ethic.”

Entering her senior season as a Jag, Pilgrim is a decorated athlete. She was named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on April 6, 2009. That season she was also named to the second-team all-conference and was the first USA softball player to be named to an all-tournament team.

She has also thrown two no-hitters during her career at South and holds the first softball win against a nationally ranked opponent.

The youngest sister of former USA volleyballer, Summer Pilgrim, Beth plans to cap her final season on top.

If history is any indication, the Jags are safe on Pilgrim’s shoulders.