One of the greatest athletic achievements in Bowie High School history took place on an unexpectedly searing April day in Graham.
Jenna Deweber, now Barthold, logged 19 innings and smacked the game-winning home run deep over the center field fence as the Lady Rabbits topped the Lady Blues 2-1.
“It was a crazy, hot day,” Barthold recalled. “I remember before the game we went climbing on the mountain.”
There is a large bluff overlooking the softball field in Graham, and the entire team ascended to the top.
“I was hollering for them, when all of a sudden I looked up and saw all of them coming down,” said then Bowie coach Tommy Tomlinson.
Tomlinson was on edge, because he didn’t want any of the girls to fall and get injured before what was an important district game.
This was back when Bowie and Graham played in the same classification and district, which hasn’t been the case in several years.
Earlier this week, Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer recorded 20 strikeouts in nine innings – just the sixth time that’s occurred since 1913. Read more of this column in the May 14 Bowie News.

Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.

Jenna Deweber Barthold was known for her ‘rise’ ball which created dangerous spin. She once struck out 31 batters in a game at Graham. (News file photo by Todd Peterson)