University of South Alabama Athletics

AT ST. JAMES HIGH SCHOOL
• Lettered six seasons at Saint James School in Montgomery, Ala., as she began playing on the varsity squad as a seventh-grader
• Three-time first-team, all-state selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA)
• Led Saint James to the (Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 3A state title as a senior, a year after a runner up finish at the state tournament in 2025
• Trojans also posted a third-place finish at the 2024 state tournament, and a fifth-place finish at the 2023 tournament
• Helped the Trojans win three area championships and a pair of regional championships
• Selected to compete for the South Team at the 2025 North-South All-Star Game
• Left St. James holding career records in earned run average of 1.80 and strikeouts (1,449), and single-season marks in strikeouts (430, 2025), wins (35, 2025) and perfect games (4, 2025) 
• Career stats: 39 shutouts, 13 saves, 11 no-hitters and .160 opponent batting average
• Earned first-team, all-state honors and was named the 4A Player of the Year as a senior
• Starred on both sides of the plate as she had a .438 batting average, while posting a 1.47 earned run average with seven shutouts, including a pair of no-hitters, with two saves, 317 strikeouts and a .152 opponent batting average
• Had a sub-1 ERA both her sophomore and junior season
• As a junior, she was one of 20 players in the nation to be nominated for the Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year
• Also named to the ASWA Super All-State team, and was a first team selection to the 3A all-state squad
• Selected as the 3A Player of the Year, the CCC Player the Year and earned the Extra Inning Golden Arm Award
• Set single-season records in strike outs and wins, and career strikeouts during her junior season
• Named the Montgomery Advertiser Player of the Year as a sophomore
• Also named the 3A Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-state by the ASWA, in addition to the CCC Player of the Year
• Also lettered in basketball and in volleyball
• Played travel ball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts where she helped the club team to three championships, including the PGF National Championship, and a runner up finish at the PGF Show Me The Money event

PERSONAL
• Full name is Emily Claire Needham
• Born in Pike Road, Ala.
• Daughter of Rob (deceased) and Audra Needham
• Cousin Jacob Coats played baseball both collegiately (Houston Christian) and professionally (Gary Southshore Railcats)
• Majoring in biomedical sciences