By Lynn Jacobsen
“Born a month premature, the prognosis wasn’t good,” Rebekah’s mother, Christine said.
“Her lungs were not developed and she would not eat,” Christine said, noting that her daughter’s weight dropped from five pounds at birth to 3 ½ pounds.
Rebekah was fighting to stay alive. Years later it is that fighter mentality that junior pitcher relies on when in the circle.
Clinton has her sights set on getting the Wildcats to the state tournament and earning a scholarship. She admits she would love the opportunity to play softball for the University of Arizona.
“I love everything about Arizona,” she said. “Their coaches, the program, the school, everything.”
It was while on a trip to Tucson and an Arizona softball game that Clinton knew she had found her sport.
“I was hooked early,” she said. “We took a vacation and saw a game at Arizona. Afterwards, the players were signing posters. I asked (pitcher) Kenzie Fowler to get me some dirt off the pitcher’s mound. She asked why I wanted it. I said I would return it when I got my full ride.”
Ponca City softball coach Jared Freeman has built his program around the junior hurler.
“My first year as head coach was her first year at the high school,” Freeman said. “I could tell early in her career that she was the type of kid we wanted to build the program with. She’s a good teammate, a good leader and a great kid.”
Clinton throws a rise ball, fast ball, a drop and a change. “My out pitch is probably my rise ball,” said Clinton, whose rise has been clocked at 64 mph. “My ball will curve a little, maybe not as much as some other girls.”
After winning 11 games her freshman year and 20 of the team’s 21 victories last season, Clinton has hit her stride this season. She credits it with some timely advice from mentor Hillary Bach, a former Holland Hall star, who played softball at Arizona State.
“Hillary told me I needed to get on a good summer team,” Clinton said. “She suggested the Tulsa Eagles. My mom emailed the coach (Dave Simmons) and he came to watch me. Pretty much I auditioned for my spot. I had a pretty good summer.
“I had some difficulties but it was a great learning experience. I came away knowing how to better pitch to hitters.” She’s catapulted that into a solid junior season, leading the Wildcats on a 13-game win streak earlier this season.
“She’s taken her game to a whole new level,” Freeman said. “She’s so confident in her pitches.”
Clinton gave up basketball her freshman year of high school to concentrate all her attention on softball. Last year, she joined the swim team, mostly to help stay in shape for softball.
“I was named the most improved swimmer on the team last year,” she said. “I just did it to get in shape and now just to stay in shape. Softball is my sport.”
Currently, her goals are focused solely on the state tournament. “I hope to put Ponca City on the map for softball,” she said. “I know there were teams that used to say oh we have Ponca City, this will be an easy game. They aren’t saying that this year. We’re letting people know we are here to play.”
Even as a youngster, Clinton drew attention, playing with a 12 and under team at age 7.
“I really couldn’t tell you anything about T-ball, because I was already playing competitively at seven,” she said.
Clinton hopes to follow in the footsteps of Bach and head west for college. Bach was a standout pitcher who completed her college career at Arizona State with a 22-1 record in 2012 and 88 career victories.
“Hillary has done a lot to draw interest to Oklahoma from coaches out west,” Clinton said. “I admire her so much for going to Arizona State.
As she wait for a call from Tucson, Clinton has a back-up plan. “I’ve been looked at by Mississippi, Tennessee, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, even a school in New York,” she said. “If Arizona doesn’t call, I know I will go wherever God directs me. I’m not getting anxious or anything. I’m patient, I can wait. I believe things will work out for me.”
Clinton believes her early struggles to survive have been the catalyst for her in softball. “It’s the same formula I used when I was young to fight and survive that I use in my games,” Clinton said. “I guess you could say I’m still fighting.”
For now, the dirt remains in the same container she brought it home in and in a secure spot.
“It’s right by my bed,” Clinton said. “I don’t take it out and show it off. I don’t take it to games. It’s my good luck charm.”