Dover-Foxcroft softball player benefiting from commitment to sport

By Larry Mahoney

BDN Staff

BREWER, Maine — It is easy to see why Jenna Clukey had an impressive freshman season as the ace of the pitching staff for the Foxcroft Academy softball team.

She has talent but, just as importantly, is dedicated to the sport, which is being shown again during the summer months.

“She is probably the most dedicated player I have ever coached,” said Foxcroft Academy coach Scott Anderson, who has coached Clukey since third grade. “She’s the hardest worker I’ve seen. She loves it. She had a great freshman year.”

Clukey pitches year-round and works on other aspects of her game while balancing her soccer and swimming careers at Foxcroft.

She commutes to the Sluggers Baseball and Softball Training Facility in Brewer every Sunday during the winter to work on her game. In the summer, she travels to Husson University in Bangor two days a week to practice with her Sluggers 14-Under team. The team also plays in weekend tourneys.

She helped lead her Sluggers 14-U team to a recent third-place finish in the state tournament.

She has played for Sluggers ever since its inception three years ago and her development has mirrored the facility’s ascension as four of its teams appeared in five championship games during tournaments across the state this summer.

Clukey also plays for two teams in Dover-Foxcroft, an 18-Under and a 14-Under squad, in an eastern Maine Amateur Softball Association league.

When she isn’t at a scheduled practice or a game, Clukey will occasionally ride with one or both of her parents, Jack and Deb, to Sluggers so she can hit in the batting cage, pitch or work on her fielding.

“She would have to be on her deathbed to miss a practice or a game,” said Husson University of Bangor softball coach Terren Hall, the softball director at Sluggers. “She is very dedicated as are her parents.

“She came to us as a very raw talent. She worked hard on her mechanics and now that’s not an issue. We’re working on the mental aspect of her game,” said Hall. “She has very large potential to play in college.”

Clukey shut out defending state Class B champ Hermon 1-0 this past spring and limited the Hawks to two hits and no runs over 5 ⅔ innings in the rematch before losing 4-1.

Hermon went on to win the Eastern Maine title.

“She has come a long ways,” said Anderson. “She has really worked on her pitches. She has become a smarter pitcher.”

Anderson said Clukey has three quality pitches: curve, fastball and changeup. Hall said she also has a drop.

“She has very good stuff,” he said.

Clukey said all the time on the road doesn’t bother her.

“It’s definitely worth it,” she said. “Our town doesn’t have a travel team so Sluggers has given me the opportunity to play in summer tournaments.”

She also has been given the opportunity to diversify.

“I had never played shortstop before but I have played both shortstop and first base for Sluggers. That has really helped me.  A lot of pitchers just want to pitch but I want to play other positions,” said Clukey who noted that her versatility could help her land a college roster spot and earn her more playing time.

Clukey said making friendships is another benefit of being involved in softball year-round.

“I’ve been able to make lifelong friends from different schools. We have fun together,” she said.

Anderson pointed out that in addition to her pitching, Clukey was one of Foxcroft Academy’s top hitters.

“She is the face of the program. It isn’t just what she does on the field, it’s the way she goes about her work and her leadership,” he said.