St. Aloysius welcomes Stephanie Schoonover back home

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Vicksburg native Stephanie Schoonover returned to her hometown on Monday and was welcomed with opened by her former team. She threw the first pitch in the game against Tensas Academy and she was thrilled to be back home.

“It’s bittersweet and it makes my heart so happy because this is where I played and Coach Candice and Coach Howard were the ones who gave me the confidence that I needed back then,” Schoonover said.

Schoonover was St. Al’s star pitcher in 2014 where she was just a seventh grader who led the team to a 14-9-1 record. She moved to Alabama with her family just a short time later and continued her stardom.

At Monday’s game, Schoonover got to witness St. Al as a winning program for the first time since her departure.

“Seeing this is amazing and this means a lot because I’m still attached to here and I love to see them play the game they love,” Schoonover added.

In attendance at last night’s game were Schoonover’s St. Al coaches, Candice Reeder and Howard Park.

The Schoonover Kid

Stephanie moved to Dothan, Alabama in 2015 and was the 2019 5A Alabama Pitcher of the Year. She went on to become one of the best pitchers in the history of the University of Kentucky, her Alma Mater.

Although Schoonover went on to be in the national spotlight, she testified that she loved being back home where she’ll always be known as that “Schoonover Kid.” 

Schoonover will be attending Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama where she will be pursuing her Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy. Before her departure, she left some small advice for the local athletes in our community.

“Have confidence and trust in yourself,” she said. Play with passion and love for the game because it’s a game of failure so you have to be gentle with yourself and know that God will guide you. Love the game.”