Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Ruby Bartholomew, Clayton Valley Charter High
Grade: Senior
School: Clayton Valley Charter High School
Sports: Softball & Flag Football
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 14, 2025) — Accomplished softball player Bartholomew exudes the values of her sport through her dedication and even excursions to other countries to spread her love of softball. A four-year varsity starter for Clayton Valley Charter, she has made an impact not just in Concord, where she has been first-team all-Diablo Athletic League last spring, but also in the Dominican Republic.
This past summer, Bartholomew traveled to the Caribbean nation on a community service trip to teach younger girls how to play softball and to fundraise to get the girls necessities and equipment. Just as she instilled in these young girls, Bartholomew’s passion for the sport also began as a child.
After trying soccer, dance and gymnastics, she discovered softball and has been playing it ever since. In fact, she has been on a traveling softball team for the past seven years and is currently playing for All American Mizuno 18U Gold out of Sacramento.
For her senior season at CVC, Bartholomew hopes to win the league as a lefty pitcher and outfielder. Coach David Cooney reflects, “Over the years I have watched her develop into a solid player and teammate. She is well respected by her teammates and is one of our team leaders. She is the ultimate team player, doing anything she can to help our team win. Ruby has been a great mentor to the younger players as well, always offering tips and advice.”
Cooney also coached Bartholomew in flag football, where she played on CVCHS’s varsity team for the first two years of its existence. She also earned first team all-DAL in flag football where she played offense and was a team captain.
Bartholomew is also very involved in school, maintaining a 4.13 GPA and holding memberships in the Public Service Academy, Senior Women, National Honor Society and Girls Who Start. Not to mention, she is a senior representative for ASB, the president of Special Olympics Walking Club and the publicity chair for Slime Club. Bartholomew, although undecided on a college, hopes to major in environmental science and continue playing softball this fall.
CVCHS student journalist Corinne Jeandheur wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Ruby and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement, or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Corinne Jeandheur
Corinne Jeandheur is a senior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. She runs on the CVCHS cross country team in the fall as well as competing on the track and field team in the spring. She also plays the piano and bakes in her free time. Jeandheur is a member of the CVCHS Engineering and Design Academy and concluded her sophomore year with a 4.33 GPA. She is serving as co-president of the California Scholarship Federation at Clayton Valley Charter this school year and continuing her academic and community involvement in the National Honor Society. She is very pleased to be writing the monthly Athlete Spotlight for the Pioneer.