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SIERRA VISTA — Jessica Childers had just driven across the border into New Mexico en route to a recruiting visit in Portales with the Eastern New Mexico University softball program when her cell phone rang.
Her mother, Sheryl Townsend, was on the other end. To keep her daughter from worrying, all Townsend would tell Childers was that her stepfather had been in an accident.
She told her daughter to just keep driving east. Childers called her grandmother, who told her to turn around and drive back — carefully — to Sierra Vista to be with her mother.
So Childers did just that, and hurried the three hours back to Sierra Vista. When she arrived, she learned her stepfather, Larry “CB” Townsend, had died in an unexpected accident while working.
 Former Tombstone High School star Jessica Childers is off to play softball at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M., this fall. (Ed Honda-Herald/Review) |
“The whole way, nobody wanted to tell me what was going on,” Childers said. “But everything does happen for a reason. And I truly believe that.”
Childers, a three-sport star at Tombstone High, spent the last two years playing softball at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Though she never had her visit at ENMU, she signed there anyway and next week she will depart for Portales to begin playing Division II softball.
“Mom didn’t like me in Kansas because she couldn’t see many of my games,” Childers said. “And there was snow, and tornado scares, it was so different.”
Childers said she also had a hard time adjusting to the more humid heat, which nearly made her pass out when she first started practices.
“I’m just glad to start something new and fresh,” she said. “I did love the girls there, but it was hard being so far from home.”
During her first semester at Coffeyville, Childers spent almost all of her time with high school friend Brianna Lee, who went to school at Coffeyville on a volleyball scholarship, but also played softball her freshman year.
“That semester, we were together 24/7,” Childers said. “Because we were also roommates.”
Lee tried to convinced Childers to move on to Western Carolina University where Lee signed last month, but Childers’ mother was a big influence on her daughter staying within a day’s drive.
“My mom is definitely my best friend,” Childers said. “I’m really excited to go and play ball again, and I’m sure I’ll be making frequent trips home to spend time with her.”
Childers left Tombstone High School holding the home run record with 10 in her senior season with the Yellowjackets. Her sophomore year with Coffeyville, she had a .987 fielding percentage and .320 batting average.
Now she’s moving to Portales, N.M., without having ever seen her new school or meeting her new coach, Amber Daniel. She’s been finalizing plans with school and softball through phone calls, faxes, text messages and e-mails.
“I didn’t actually ever get to visit, since the trip got cut short,” Childers said. “So I’m going out on a limb. But I have been in contact with some of the girls on the team, and my new roommate’s been really helpful.”
Daniel said she’s not worried about having never met the late recruit to the Zias softball team. Just talking with several of her old coaches put her at ease about Childers’ ability on and off the field.
“Obviously I’m beyond excited to have her,” Daniel said. “We talk what seems like every day. She’s a great person, great academically, and with her athletic ability on the softball field, she’ll be a great addition to our team.”
When she leaves on Aug. 16, Childers will be joining former Buena Colts softball players Michelle Anderson, now a junior, and Melissa Hardy, recent high school graduate, at ENMU.
And she’s a little less worried about leaving her mother this fall because her brother and stepsister have recently moved back to Sierra Vista to be with Townsend.
“I’m a strong person, and strong for my mom,” Childers said. “And if I can put a smile on her face, it gets me through.”
HERALD/REVIEW sports reporter Liz Manring can be reached at 515-4682 or by e-mail at liz.manring@svherald.com.
Bont wrote on Aug 9, 2008 7:52 PM: