A Jackson native, Jennifer Moore Wilkerson is honored for her dominance as a softball pitcher for Jackson-Central Merry High School, Volunteer State Community College, Indiana University, and summer-league youth teams.
She will be inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame when the 36th event (2020 event not held due to COVID) is held at 6:30 p.m., April 14 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
At JCM, Wilkerson had 810 career strikeouts, including 270 her senior season when she had an 0.88 earned run average and was named The Jackson Sun’s 2004 Softball Player of the Year. The 5-foot-9 right-hander also led West Tennessee in strikeouts her junior season with 280.
She was just as dominant in summer leagues, where she began her softball career as a child. She helped lead the Madison North Dixie Debs for ages 16-18 to three state championships and three World Series.
Wilkerson signed with Volunteer State Community College and continued her dominance on the mound. Her freshman year she pitched the program’s first perfect game, striking out 12 in a 10-0, five-inning win over Roane State.
“She has a rise ball that’s just … moving,” VSCC Coach Johnny Lynn said at the time. “It’s a tough pitch. College players are hitters. They’re swinging to hit, but the ball is moving so much that they’re not hitting it.”
Wilkerson finished her freshman season in 2005 ranked third in the nation with 354 strikeouts. In 41 appearances she had a 27-6 record, seven saves and an 0.80 ERA. She led the conference in wins and strikeouts and was named the Tennessee Junior College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year. She was named second-team All-American and first team All-Region XII in the National JCAA. Vol State ended the season ranked No. 14 in the nation.
Wilkerson’s sophomore year at VSCC she again finished third in the nation in strikeouts with 284, which led the conference. She had an ERA of 0.97 and a 23-7 record. She was first-team All-Region and earned second-team All-America honors. She also had a 3.75 grade point average.
“I didn’t have as much exposure as I would have liked coming out of high school, and going to Vol State was not an easy decision for me,” Wilkerson said. “But it was the best fit among the choices I had, and I enjoyed my time there.”
She had several offers from four-year schools after graduating from Vol State, and she chose Indiana University in Bloomington, which was trying to build a softball program. The Hoosiers had a 21-34 record her junior season, when Wilkerson pitched 82 innings and had a 5-10 record. Her senior year she pitched 45 innings and was 1-6. Indiana finished 16-35.
“I didn’t do as well as I could have, but I’m glad I went there,” Wilkerson said. “It was probably my best option, and it turned out OK.”
Wilkerson earned a degree in general studies and thought about coaching softball. She was a graduate assistant at the University of West Alabama and helped coach Brian Dunn at University School of Jackson for two seasons before pursuing other interests.
“I didn’t really want to coach high school ball, and I knew I wanted to stay near family in Jackson,” she said. “So I gave up coaching.”
Wilkerson is the daughter of Robert and Carol Moore. She married Chris Wilkerson nine years ago, and they have two sons, Austin, 6, and Redding, 2. That keeps her busy when she isn’t at work at First Horizon Bank in Jackson.
“I still go to my niece’s games at South Side and my son’s games and enjoy watching sports,” Wilkerson said. “I would encourage every young person to try some sport. It builds character and sportsmanship, and you make new friends and have fun. But make sure you enjoy it. Do it for yourself, not for someone else.”
John Collins, Tommy Dean, AJ Merriweather, James Parker and Jennifer Moore-Wilkerson are the newest members of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame.
For more information – tickets and reservations, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.
– Dan Morris
(PHOTO: Jennifer Moore Wilkerson)
