Faces In The Crowd: Amanda Renfro Simmons
June 12, 2007 | Softball
June 12, 2007
By Wes Skipwith, Texas Tech Athletic Media Relations
After tossing two perfect games and one no-hitter during her career at Texas Tech, Amanda Renfro proved she could control games while on the mound. Now as Amanda Renfro Simmons, she is learning how to control a husband, three kids and a job.
Simmons, who started for the Red Raider Softball team from 1998-2001, holds 24 of the 26 single season and career pitching records for Tech. Her 1,226 career strikeouts and 1,182 2/3 innings pitched are good for sixth in the NCAA division 1 record book. She was named to All-Big 12 teams three times and was Second Team All-American in 2001 after leading the nation with 421 strikeouts. After Simmons' career at Tech was over, her No. 15 jersey was retired and she is the only former player in the program's history to have that honor.
Simmons said that despite all of her achievements and accolades, what she will remember the most is the camaraderie and closeness she shared with her teammates while playing at Tech.
"I liked the girls I played with," Simmons said. "Each team was different. We were always on the go so it was fun. Being apart of a team is a bond that you really can't explain. You are all going for the same thing at the same time so you develop special relationships."
Simmons now lives in Houston with her husband, Harold, whom she met in Lubbock. They have been married since 2004 and they have three girls; twins Emily and Kasey, who will be two in July, and Mckenna, their newest addition, who was born last March. She said it has been kind of a hectic time lately with the arrival of the new baby.
"We are just busy chasing the girls around, and I just got back to work after having the baby," Simmons said. "But it's fun because my whole family is helping out."
Both Amanda and Harold work for Seismic Exchange Inc., an oil and gas company with offices in Houston. Amanda has been with SEI for four years and works as a licensing coordinator. Simmons said she likes her job but she misses playing college softball.
"I miss competing and the intensity of the games," Simmons said. "It was just a lot of fun being out there."
Simmons now finds most of her enjoyment from raising her children. She said the job is challenging but it is also rewarding seeing them grow up and learn new things. She is looking forward to her girls growing up and maybe following in the footsteps of their superstar mom.
"That is something we are working on now." Simmons said jokingly. "They like throwing the ball so we'll see. Hopefully they can take after their mom. Whatever sports they pick up I want to hopefully coach or be a part of it, but I'm going to try to lean them towards softball."