It sounds different when Durango High School junior softball player Avery Clair hits the ball.
The 6-foot first base player and the head coach’s daughter has the combination of size and power that is rare to see at the high school level in softball. In fact, the origins of this type of power are somewhat of a mystery to even Avery’s mom and head coach.
“It's funny, in college, I think I hit eight home runs total in college compared to what she's done in one season,” Durango softball head coach Sara Clair said. “I was not a speedy slapper; I would hit what I would consider for power, but my power is nothing like her power … I've pitched at the Division 1 level, so I saw some really good hitting. That way that sometimes when she makes contact, that speed that ball comes off the bat is like nothing I've seen before.”
Both Avery and Sara are in their third year at their positions. Sara has been the head coach of Durango softball since 2023 and Avery has been a member of the varsity team since her freshman year in 2023. Avery and the team’s growth have coincided over the last three years.
In 2023, the Demons went 4-17 overall and 1-7 in the 5A/4A Southwestern League in Sara’s first year as head coach. As a freshman, Avery had a batting average of .367 with 22 hits and zero home runs.
Last season, Durango made some big strides and finished 9-14 overall and 1-9 in the league. Avery’s batting average rose to .513 with 39 hits and four home runs.
This season, Sara and the Demons are in position to make the regional playoffs and have the chance to finish with their first winning record since 2021. Durango is 11-10 overall and 0-8 in the league. Avery has a batting average of .516 to lead Durango, leads the team with 33 hits and leads the team with eight home runs, a number that’s tied fourth most in 4A. All three players ahead of Avery have more at-bats than she does.
“I'm feeling good,” Avery said. “I'm just super excited because our playoff run, we could potentially make it. I’m excited because Durango softball hasn't had this in many years. I’m super excited to hopefully go up and play in Denver and get this opportunity.”
Avery’s success so far this season goes back to her preparation in the offseason. She spent a lot of time in Illete Fitness getting stronger. She worked with her hitting coach, Masen Hibbeler, who’s also the baseball coach at Durango, on using all the power she has by using her legs more.
Ever since Avery was a baby, she’s been in the 100th percentile in height, according to Sara. But with the added height has come some struggles for Avery. Her growth plates were open for so long that Avery has had four knee surgeries, with her first in sixth grade. She’s torn both of her meniscus twice. Avery has also had an avulsion fracture in her hip and her elbow, which happens when a ligament or tendon pulls a small piece of bone away from the main bone and causes a fracture at the growth plate.
“It’s definitely given me some mental toughness,” Avery said. “It was hard at first because I hate sitting out. But I’ve felt like I’ve really grown just knowing that I’ll be back, mentally, I just had to be there and not get down. It motivated me to go to the gym more.”
All that work in the gym and Avery starting softball at age 4 has paid off. She always played up with her older sister, Grace, who’s 18. Avery also grew up playing other sports, but when realized she wanted to play softball in college, she decided to only play softball, starting in eighth grade.
She grew up playing catcher for her sister, before switching to first base in seventh grade after she struggled to get into a squat with her knee troubles. Sara said that everywhere Avery plays travel ball, people ask her if she’s a pitcher with her size. Sara joked that it breaks her heart, as a former pitcher at the University of Dayton, that Avery didn’t want anything to do with pitching at her size. But first base has worked out for Avery.
“Her size is a huge advantage,” Sara said about Avery at first base. “She can catch anything high and she's got the arm span.”
Avery has worked hard at first base on her footwork and moving to the ball, depending on the situation.
One thing Avery loves to work on is her hitting. It’s her favorite part of the game. She loves hitting for power and the satisfaction of making good contact and letting her team score.
Avery wants to play in college and one of the biggest changes if she gets that opportunity will be not playing for her mom. Sara has coached Avery from the beginning and they’ve had their moments of disagreement. But Avery knows she’s grown from being a stubborn freshman who didn’t want to be coached into a malleable star.
“It's not for the faint of heart, coaching your daughter at a high school level,” Sara said. “Teenage girls are challenging as it is and I love them. I say that with love, but you mix in your own daughter and it's tricky. I'm constantly very aware of nepotism and not trying to treat her any different. If anything, I've always told her that I hold her to a higher standard.”
Now, Avery’s hoping her power can propel her to a future in college softball. She’s been to showcases in multiple states and is playing with a travel team this summer that’ll be going out of state to showcases where college coaches will be watching.
Before that, Avery’s power will be a big reason if Durango can make some noise in the regional playoffs. A positive playoff experience could be the next step in following in her mom’s footsteps as a collegiate softball player.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
