THS softball standout inks with college

Published 3:03 pm Wednesday, November 8, 2017

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – When Marion Military Institute head softball coach Jeff Benson took the position last spring, he immediately began the task of building up the program. When looking for MMI’s future catcher, his search ended at Thompson High School.

“We’re really excited about having Madison, and she’s going to fit us well,” Benson said during THS senior softball player Madison Bubel’s scholarship signing ceremony in the THS library on Nov. 8. “We lose four seniors, and we don’t have very much in catching right now. We’re very proud to have her. We’re building our program off of people like this.”

Bubel was the second THS softball player to sign a college scholarship offer in as many days, as her teammate Bailey Whitfield inked with Faulkner University the previous day.

During the ceremony, Bubel was surrounded by family members, teammates, coaches and school administrators.

THS softball coach Kevin Todd said Bubel’s catching prowess has led to much success during her time with the Warriors.

“Catcher is the hardest position on the field,” Todd said. “You can have pitching, you can have defense, you can have hitting, but if you don’t have a good catcher you’re not going to be very good. She’s a big part of our success, and she’s going to be a bigger part of our success this year. She’s a great young lady, and she knows how much I love her.

“I’m so proud and really happy that she chose Marion. One reason is because of Jeff Benson – He and I go way back, and we’ve been friends for years,” Todd added. “I was really excited when she said she was going to Marion, because Jeff knows how to develop catchers. She’s going to be in good hands.”

In addition to her standout catching skills, Bubel is also making an impact at the plate. Last season, she held a strong batting average of .455 with 39 RBIs. She picked up 49 hits including 12 doubles and five home runs en route to earning a spot on the Shelby County Reporter All-County list last year.

“I want to tell everyone how proud we are of Madison. This is her day,” Todd said.