Cloverdale among an elite group of gifted athletes
Few high school athletes live up to the advanced hype that Cloverdale High School incoming sophomore Tehya Bird endured in a star-studded freshman year, but the gifted 15-year old may have actually exceeded it.
Last month, Bird was rewarded for a remarkable 2017 softball campaign in being named to the CalHi Sports All State team as a multi-purpose player.
CalHi, which tracks high school records and statistics throughout the state, understood what local coaches and teammates witnessed last spring in a season that had to be seen to be believed.
Bird, who also starred on varsity volleyball and basketball teams, entered high school as one of the most highly touted athletes in recent memory. She was verbally committed to the University of Oregon before the school year began, almost unheard of for an incoming freshman.
“Tehya had a tremendous season, that’s why Pat (Fitzgerald) and I nominated her for All State,” CHS head softball coach Margaret Fitzgerald said. “She is very deserving and joins an exclusive list of All State players at Cloverdale High School.”
Bird’s season statistics were phenomenal. As a hitter, she posted a .727 batting average (48 for 66), including nine doubles, five triples, 11 homers and 53 runs batted in. All marks were team highs.
In addition, she had an on-base percentage of .814 and a slugging percentage of 1.515. Her OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) of 2.329 was virtually off the charts. Highly respected by the opposition, she was walked 29 times and struck out only once all season.
“Her hitting numbers are unheard of in high school softball,” Fitzgerald noted.
As the team’s ace pitcher, Bird logged an overall record of 19-5 with a 2.09 earned run average, striking out 220 batters in 151 innings pitched.
Bird didn’t limit her achievements to the sports arena, rising to the top of her class academically.
“She’s also a great student, who excels in the classroom with a 4.0 grade point average,” Fitzgerald said.
