Meet the softball senior class of 2020: Alexis Estes
Alexis Estes did not immediately go to Southeast following a stellar senior season at Clinton High School in Lane, Illinois, where she set the school record for strikeouts in a season. She first had a pit stop at Lincoln Land Community College, however, once she visited Southeast she knew it was the one.
“It was always my dream to play softball at a Division 1 school,” Estes said. “The decision to transfer was difficult, but as soon as I visited SEMO I knew it was where I was supposed to be.”
Despite it being a difficult one, Estes ended up making the right one as the ride over the last four years has meant everything to her.
“I feel so lucky to have played with this senior class the last four years,” Estes said. “I wouldn’t trade the memories I’ve made during my four years as a softball player at SEMO for anything.”
When Estes transferred to Southeast, she made an immediate impact as she was thrust into being the Redhawks number two pitcher. Estes answered the bell, going 6–10 with a 4.06 earned run average with 65 strikeouts in 96.2 innings. She also had three complete games and two saves.
As with many of the Southeast players, her best season came during her junior season, as she was a key cog in the Ohio Valley Conference champion Southeast softball team. Estes appeared in 26 games and finished with a 7–2 record. She had a 3.26 ERA with 38 strikeouts, two saves and a .231 batting average against (8th lowest in Southeast single season history) in 68.2 innings.
Estes only got to pitch 12.2 innings in her senior year before it was cut short by COVID-19.
“It is disappointing to have the season cut short without being able to really play at all,” Estes said. “It’s hard to come to terms with my softball career ending without having any of the traditional senior lasts.”
Estes compiled an 18–13 record with a 4.09 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 212.1 innings during her career at Southeast. Her 4.22 strikeouts per seven innings ranks 9th all time in the Southeast record books. She also finished her career with four saves which is tied for eighth in Redhawks history.
Estes excelled in the classroom and on the field as she was named to the OVC commissioner’s honor roll twice. She is on track to graduate in the spring with a degree in early childhood education.
Despite her career being over, Estes does not plan on giving up softball any time soon. She said even though she can’t play next year, she will be at Southeast so she will be around the program. Estes also plans on becoming a junior high or high school softball coach once she begins her teaching career.
