By Gary Lloyd
Clay-Chalkville softball coach Paige Jones has resigned from her position to take on the same role at Hueytown, according to Clay-Chalkville High School officials.
Jones resigned Thursday. Her hire at Hueytown will need approval from the Jefferson County Board of Education. Hueytown was one of the top 10 teams in Class 6A this season.
Clay-Chalkville is now in a search for a new softball coach, which will be its third in as many seasons.
Jones spent just one season at Clay-Chalkville. The team reached the Class 6A state playoffs, losing both games of its North Regional qualifier to Albertville and Florence. The team compiled an 11-32 record, according to the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The Lady Cougars finished in second in the Class 6A, Area 13 tournament, which Oxford won.
Paige Jones
photo courtesy of www.auburntigers.com
Jones is a Thompson High School graduate who played collegiately at Auburn University from 2002-2005. She was a first-team All-SEC player in 2005. Jones made the SEC All-Tournament Team in 2004 and hit her first career grand slam in 2003 against Alabama A&M.
Jones was an all-state player three times in high school and was an All Shelby County player all four of her varsity seasons. She was a member of the 1998 and 1999 state championship teams and broke AHSAA records for single-season runs batted in (79), career RBIs (187), single-season home run total (20) and career home run total (40).
Jones was the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2001, as well as the Rivals.com National Player of the Week that same year. She was a Wendy’s High School Heisman Award nominee. She also lettered in basketball all four years of high school.
Jones has served as an assistant softball coach at West Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
