Spartan road show

MURRAY — Danny Jensen built a Hall of Fame high school career coaching softball in Murray, so it’s only fitting that the 2024 SWCC Softball Camp was held on the Murray Little League fields Monday evening.

Entering his fourth year as Southwestern’s head softball coach, Jensen said his players and 25 participating youths equally enjoyed the activities. The evening was capped by SWCC players participating in a home run derby on the little league field, and signing autographs for the youths under the new lights at the complex.

Southwestern’s electrical technology students wired the field lights last summer in conjunction with Alliant Energy.

“This is the first time we’ve gone on the road with a camp,” Jensen said. “I just thought it would be a cool idea to come over here, especially with our SWCC students getting the lights ready for us last summer. Our girls are having a great time with the kids.”

It was also a homecoming for Murray graduate Jayda Chew, a sophomore outfielder on Jensen’s SWCC squad.

The event began with the camp youths observing a one-hour SWCC practice at 5:30 p.m. Southwestern players then led hitting and fielding skill sessions for one hour before the Spartan players each had 10 swings to compete in the home run contest.

A total of 15 home runs were hit in the event, led by four each by Bethany Button of Van Meter and Callie Allen of Omaha.

The night ended with the youths getting autographs from the Spartan players.

Jensen said another set of youth camps will likely be offered over the winter in their indoor workout center in the former Walmart building on New York Avenue. Registration information will be available on the Southwestern athletics website - www.southwesternspartans.com.