5 Star Athletics founder Jillian Callaway graduated from the University of Maryland in 2003 with a B.S. in Communications. During her collegiate career as a Terrapin, Callaway played nearly every position on the field and amassed a 0.988 fielding percentage while batting 0.300 at the plate. She was honored with the M Club President’s Cup Award for Academic Achievement and ACC Top Six for Service Award, and was also selected to the Verizon All-Academic 2 nd team.

In her first year after graduation, she worked as a softball instructor at Planet Fastpitch in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, New England’s largest exclusive Fastpitch softball facility. Callaway moved back to her roots to take the assistant coaching position at her alma mater in the Fall of 2004. She helped the Terrapins to another winning season while promoting character and poise, which won them the ACC Sportsmanship Award for the 2005 Season. Callaway continued on as the pitching coaching in the Fall of 2005 under new Terrapin Coach Laura Watten.

Callaway is now pursuing her career at 5 Star Athletics full-time. She continues to educate youth through her clinics, camps, and group lessons. Callaway also runs camps at local universities, including her alma mater, the University of Maryland, and Catholic University. Callaway was also recently named Deputy Commissioner of ASA Softball for the MD/DC Region.

Clarisa Crowell was an integral part of the Virginia Tech softball team during her tenure in Blacksburg. She hit a personal best on the mound with 14 strikeouts and tossed four no-hitters in her career as a Hokie. She is the school’s career leader in winning percentage at 0.722. Crowell received her master’s from the University of Ohio while serving as the Bobcats assistant coach for 2 years. She continued her career as the Syracuse University assistant coach, leading the Orange to a school record 36 season wins and 15 BIG East wins in their 2006 season. Crowell now serves as the pitching coach for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in the Big 12 Conference.

Danielle Carpenter was the Terps pure lefty in the lineup who manned the outfield grass with a 0.957 fielding percentage. She showed her versatility by making the transition from the pitching staff to left field mid-career. Carpenter graduated from the University of Maryland in 2002 with a degree in Math Education. She continues her involvement in athletics as the Rocky Hill Middle School softball coach in the fall season, and the Holy Child High School Varsity Softball coach during the spring.

Lauren Pollock recently finished her collegiate softball career as she exhausted her eligibility at the University of Maryland. Most noted for her natural hitting ability, she was a clutch in pinch hitting situations for the Terrapins. Pollock was also used as the designated hitter and saw time in the outfield. She graduated in the spring of 2006, and teaches at Glendale Elementary School. Lauren now serves as an assistant coach for the Bayside Blues 18U team, teaching all aspects of the game and helping her athletes be recruited to play at the next level.

Beth Radford shouldered the majority of the catching duties in her four years as a Terrapin. Before her graduation from Maryland in the spring of 2002, she made an impact both offensively and defensively. The single season and career leader in RBIs and home runs, she was most respected for her arm from behind the plate. Radford is now a chemical engineer for the Office of Naval Intelligence.

In 2003 when Rita Horning graduated from Cabrini College in Radnor, PA, she left an unprecedented mark on their record books. Horning was the PAC Player of the year for 3 consecutive seasons, and led her team to 4 PAC titles. Her two All-American selections were justified by her 0.435 career batting average, 28 home runs, and 186 RBIs. She was named Cabrini’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2003-2004. Horning now teaches religion and coaches softball at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, MD. She was named All-Gazette Coach of the Year for their 2006 season.

 

New to the 5 Star Athletics staff, University of Maryland assistant coach Alissa Smith joins the camp staff. Prior to joining the Terps, she spent six years as the assistant coach at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida where she helped lead the Wildcats to five straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships. While in college, Smith earned both the defensive player of the year and the Golden Glove award. 5 Star looks forward to her contributing her expertise to the program.

Sarah Bible has been the head coach of the Bowie High School Bulldogs for the past 15 seasons. Last season, she led the team to a 20-1 record, winning the county title and advancing to the regional finals for the third time in the past four seasons. Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in sports management and marketing while at West Virginia University, and has also earned a masters degree in motor development with an emphasis in sports administration. She now teaches physical education.

After a record setting year at Longwood University in Farmville, VA, Abbey Welch transferred to the University of Maryland. There, Abbey continued to shine as she led the Terrapins from the pitching circle, plate, and centerfield. She threw only the seventh perfect game in Maryland history, and recorded nine multiple-hit games in her junior year alone. Abbey will graduate with a degree in government and politics.

Lindsay Klein flew from the west coast to start every game but one in her four seasons as a Terrapin. She spent her first three seasons anchoring the offense while playing first base. As a senior, she added depth to the pitching rotation. Lindsay left her mark on nearly every single season and career record at the University of Maryland, and earned herself a degree in marketing.

Medley McGuire is currently finishing her education degree at the University of Maryland. She was a great asset to the Terrapin program, and was ready to fill her utility role whenever called upon. A true inspiration to everyone she comes into contact with, Medley’s energy and work ethic were contagious to her teammates. Prior to Maryland, Medley earned four varsity letters for McDonough High School in Owings Mills, MD for both softball and swimming.

Jen Peel started her career at the University of Maryland on a roll, as she hit in 4-of-5 games and drove home four runs in the season opening tournament. Jen continued to excel throughout the following seasons, anchoring the second base position and making an invaluable contribution to the offensive lineup. Jen was a tri-sport athlete at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick, MD, and now teaches physical education.