Texas' loss was Joplin High School’s gain. Translation: Kristin Mayberry, who was born in Forth Worth, transferred from Houston Bellaire to bolster the Lady Eagles’ basketball fortunes in the late 1980’s.
The 5-foot-6 Mayberry, who as a junior in 1989-90 helped Joplin to a second straight runner-up finish in Class 4, averaged 22.2 points as a senior for an 18-9 edition in earning all-state.
Mayberry supported senior all-stater Tina Robbins in 1989-90. The Eagles (28-3) were 10-0 in the Ozark Conference.
“That group of girls was like family,” Mayberry said. “They accepted me. I fell in love with it . The coaches (head coach Sandy Shelley and assistant Bob Tignor) taught me fundamentals. …everything. I played for coach (Bobby) Waggoner traveling for two summers.”
Mayberry returned to Texas — Waco — to contribute to the Baylor Lady Bears for four basketball seasons (1992-95). She believes she was a junior when meeting Baylor graduate student/future husband Brad Barton.
She averaged 12.6 points and paced the team in steals as a senior.
Barton didn’t realize it while running up and down the hardwood, but another sport — one she’d played as a youth — was going to command her attention at Baylor: softball.
Barton was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-region selection for Paula Young in 1996. Barton, who helped Baylor finish 35-26, wasn’t finished with softball.
Barton, who threw right but batted left, wound up playing the 1997 inaugural Women’s Professional Fastpitch season with the Durham (North Carolina) Dragons.
“At Baylor, I started out at second base and moved to first before settling in left field,” Barton said. “I believe I was the only senior.”
