Kayla Beaver, Brett Barry, Carita Cole, Davon DeMoss and Tarius Johnson are scheduled for induction into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame, when the 40th annual event is held at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
Terry Smith will be the recipient of the 2026 Billy Schrivner Distinguished Service Award.
Golden Media Group visited with Kayla Beaver for a Question & Answer session about her induction.
Question: First, a little background information – family, education, career?
Answer: I’m the daughter of Shane and Jessica Beaver. I graduated from South Side High School in 2019, the University of Central Arkansas in 2022 – B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences, and the University of Alabama in 2024 – M.S. Human Environmental Sciences and my career is in retail.
Question: What were your thoughts when you first learned you had been selected for induction into the 2026 Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame?
Answer: My first thought was gratitude for such and incredible honor. It is deeply humbling for the community that I grew up in to recognize and value the long practices, sacrifices, injuries, late nights, early mornings, and the journey to reach my dream.
Question: You enjoyed an outstanding softball career as a pitcher at South Side High School. Will you tell us how pitching became your calling, and is there a memory or two about your playing days with the Hawks that stand out?
Answer: It is actually very funny how pitching became the staple of my softball career. I broke my leg at the age of eight. It was after practicing for my final tryout for one of the top travel ball teams in this area.
I was riding a scooter in my neighborhood and broke my leg in two places. That ended my chances of playing travel (ball) at the time. To get back into the game, my parents signed me up for league ball at Malesus, and at our first practice (my mom was the coach) we found out we didn’t have a single pitcher.
In the parking lot, as my mom was on the phone, a gentleman walked up and gave her a coupon for a free pitching lesson. I didn’t want to go. I cried the entire way there as my dad drove telling me it would be fine.
We got there and Coach B. promised me a milkshake if I would give him 30 minutes. In the middle of the lesson, he told my dad I was a natural and after a milkshake the rest was history.
As for playing at South Side, the memories are endless. I loved my coaches and my teammates. We had all played together since we were little kids. Our home field is still one of my most favorite dirts I played on.
One of the best memories was making it to the (TSSAA) State Tournament for the first time in school history my senior year. We came so close so many times and we finally made it.
Question: You played four years at the University of Central Arkansas. What schools did you consider before you signed with the Sugar Bears, and how would you describe your time as a student and softball player at UCA?
Answer: Before signing with the University of Central Arkansas, I considered a few other Division I opportunities, including programs closer to home and some within the SEC and now BIG 12 footprint.
Ultimately, what stood out to me about UCA was the relationship I built with the coaching staff and the feeling I had on campus. It felt like the right fit — not just athletically, but academically and personally. I wanted a place where I could grow, compete at a high level, and truly develop over four years.
They played a very competitive schedule and provided me with the opportunity to challenge myself while also growing as a person.
Question: Playing at the University of Alabama as a graduate student, you helped lead the Crimson Tide to the 2024 Women’s College Series in Oklahoma City after beating your home state University of Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional.
What was the feeling like to win at UT and to participate in the WCWS?
Answer: Playing at the University of Alabama as a graduate student and having the opportunity to compete at the highest level was an incredible experience. It was my dream since I was eight years old. I was raised a Bama fan and I fell in love with the feeling of being at their games – Nothing beats the Rhodes House (University of Alabams softball stadium).
Beating the University of Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional was especially meaningful. Tennessee is my home state, and competing there, ending their season on their home field when no one thought it was possible was a statement internally that was really a defining moment for me personally.
That win was a mix of pride, excitement, and a little nostalgia — knowing I was representing the University of Alabama facing a giant in UT, but I believed in myself – even with the doubters and I was not taking my jersey off for the last time on their field.
Making it to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City was a dream come true.
Walking onto that field with my teammates, knowing the stakes and the history of the event, is something I’ll never forget. The atmosphere, the energy, and the competition at that level pushed me to be my best every single day. It was a combination of elation, gratitude, and determination — and it reminded me why I fell in love with this sport in the first place. In the words of Coach Murphy … There is never a bad day at the College World Series.
Moments like that are about more than just wins and stats; they’re about the journey, the people who supported you, the teammates you went to battle with, and the memories that last a lifetime.
I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced both — beating UT and competing in the WCWS — and I’ll carry that pride with me forever. ROLL TIDE!!!!
Question: Would you give us an idea of what you will speak about when you are inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Answer: The gratitude of the journey while believing in yourself.
For tickets and reservations for the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame event, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.
