Athletics: Softball


The William Jewell softball team has won three Heart of America Athletic Conference championships since joining the conference back in 1979. Jewell has registered eleven seasons with 20 or more wins and three campaigns with 30 or more victories (2001, 2005, and 2006). The Cardinals have been well represented on the HAAC All-Conference teams over the years as 32 players have earned the honor  since 1979. 

The Cardinals are led by fourth-year head coach Dustin Combs, a six-year veteran softball coach from Glendale High School in Springfield, Mo.  At Glendale, Combs helped start the softball program, and the team reached the state quarterfinal game in just its second season. Combs is the only coach to reach 100 wins in the city of Springfield.  Combs is assisted by Andrew Dowis.

In the four years since Combs has been at the healm for the Cardinals the team has set numerous team records.  Some of those include:

Runs Scored 293   2008
Hits 474                   2008
Doubles 91             2008
Home Runs 25      2008
Batting Avg. .295    2008
RBI’s 275                2008
Slugging % .405    2008
Sacrifices 61          2008
Field % .953           2009
Stolen Bases 68   2009
Double Plays  25  2009

In 2008 the Cardinals set a team record with wins (33) and they also achieved their highest Region V finish (third).