Following a highly-successful high school career that has included six state championships, Silo senior Timber Hensley recently signed to continue her softball resume at the Division 1 level at Texas Tech University.
Hensley wrapped up her final fastpitch season in high school this fall by being the pitching workhorse for an injury-depleted staff and pushing the Lady Rebels back to the state tournament for a ninth straight season.
“I am super excited to get four more years of playing in college,” Hensley commented. “The coaching staff at Texas Tech was amazing and I loved all the girls when I went out there. I’m excited to spend the next four years in Lubbock.
“I have always wanted to go play Division 1 in college since I started playing and am grateful to get that opportunity. I’m looking forward to being able to continue to grow as a person and softball player as well as learn from people that I haven’t been around. Being able to stay fairly close to home is a big deal as well so my family and friends can watch me play. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else and am happy to continue on in a winning program.”
The catalyst for the Lady Rebels was a dual threat for Silo this past fall, keying the team in the pitching circle while notching a 27-9 overall record and 1.36 earned run average in 195 innings. She yielded 142 hits, 57 runs (only 38 of which were earned) with 247 strikeouts and 54 walks. Opponents hit only .199 against her.
As the Silo leadoff hitter, Hensley also set the table for the Lady Rebels with a .429 batting average and .516 on-base percentage. She hit 17 doubles and two home runs, drove in 18 and scored a team-high 51 runs while finishing a perfect 16 for 16 in stolen bases. Also at the plate, she walked 22 times and only had three strikeouts (all looking) in 126 at bats.
Silo head coach Mike Lawless was also excited for his senior standout, who was just the second Division 1 signee he has coached in his career.
“Timber was extremely talented and only the second D1 signee I’ve had in 28 years,” Lawless added. “When you see someone with that type of skill set you know they are different. Her presence made a huge difference just with her energy and passion for the sport. She has such a high level of energy and enthusiasm that it’s contagious for everyone else. She pitched the majority of our innings this fall and was special because she can pitch to any quadrant of the plate and high school hitters have trouble with her.
“I didn’t really want to pitch her that many innings but with the injuries we kind of had to. She is just the type of kid that I would have to force her to come out or she would have pitched every inning this year. She never shied away. The thing I admired about her most was when things got difficult, she would grit her teeth and do something about it. She just thrived in adversity and stepped up her game, which I expect her to do at Texas Tech as well.”
