Latendresse promoted to full time head softball coach
Johnson County Community College |
Kelly Latendresse |
In Latendresse’s first season as head coach, four Johnson County student athletes achieved All-America honors and her players combined to set three school records and crack the JCCC all-time list in 34 statistical categories. Latendresse also coached five NJCAA All-Tournament picks, seven All-Region VI performers and eight East Jayhawk All-Conference performers.
The athletic achievements of the 2007 season were plentiful. Latendresse guided the Cavaliers to its greatest campaign in the program’s history, finishing second at the 2007 NJCAA Division II National Tournament. JCCC finished 46-14 overall, and captured East Jayhawk and Region VI/District titles along its way to the team’s first national title game in the program’s history. In addition, Latendresse earned NJCAA District Coach of the Year honors. Her 46 victories are the second-most by a first-year coach at JCCC.
Last season, Latendresse again led JCCC to the NJCAA National Tournament, posting a fifth-place finish with a 37-11 record overall. JCCC also won the Region VI title, downing nationally ranked Cowley College for the second straight season. Individually, seven athltes garnered All-East Jayhawk Conference, two earned All-Region VI and one, Krista Cummings, was named NFCA All-American. She also ranked among the nation’s top home run hitters while setting season and career record for home runs. In addition, Latendresse was selected as the NFCA South Region Coach of the Year.
Latendresse began her coaching career serving as Frank Barnes top assistant. In her first season as head coach Frank Barnes’ top assistant, Latendresse helped guide the team to a 47-win season and a No. 9 ranking in the final NJCAA poll. In 2006, JCCC won 43 games, and were ranked as high as No. 7 during the season. Additionally, she fostered the careers of three NJCAA All-American, six NFCA All-American, five preseason All-America selections and 21 All-Region and 22 East Jayhawk All-Conference performers.
Latendresse helped with the development of several top hitters in the country, and has had JCCC ranked among the top hitting teams each season. Two years ago JCCC collectively hit .349, good for 15th in the country. In 2006 the team batted .348 which ranked 19th nationally, in 2007 the team hit .340, which ranked 21st nationally and last year the Cavaliers ranked 13th with a team average of .356.
Latendresse began her collegiate coaching career in 2005 after a standout playing career at Johnson County Community College and Emporia State University. She had two amazing seasons at Johnson County, leading JCCC to East Jayhawk Conference and Region VI championships each season, and two trips to the NJCAA National Softball Tournament. As a two-year starter at JCCC, Latendresse helped JCCC compile a 102-19 record (.843). Her sophomore season, JCCC won 55 games, the second highest win total in team history.
In her freshman campaign, Latendresse hit an impressive .367 with 40 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and five home runs. Her five homers tied for the team lead. She also was nearly flawless in the field, committing just five errors in 196 chances. Postseason accolades followed, as Gartner was selected as a second-team East Jayhawk All-Conference and second-team NJCAA All-Region VI/District C performer.
Latendresse followed her solid freshman season with a phenomenal sophomore campaign, finishing as one of the leading hitters in the NJCAA. She hit .516 (98-for-190), with 20 doubles, six triples and 12 home runs. She drove in an amazing 91 runners, shattering the previous record of 73. Her .516 average was the fourth-best in the NJCAA, and her RBI and home run totals ranked second and tied for 13th nationally. She capped the season by earning first-team NJCAA All-American. In addition, she was named NFCA All-American, team MVP, JCCC Female Athlete of the Year, East Jayhawk Conference MVP, Region VI/District C MVP and NFCA All-West Region first-team.
Latendresse also left her mark among the all-time career leaders at JCCC. She set the career record for RBI with 123, and tied the career home run mark with 17. She also ranked fourth in doubles (29), ninth in runs (94) and fifth in average (.456).
Latendresse continued her career at Emporia State University, where she was twice selected as an honorable mention All-MIAA performer. She also was named as a NFCA scholar athlete. As a junior, Latendresse started all 57 games, and hit .304 (51-for-168) with 14 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI. Her senior season, she played all 61 contests while hitting .308 (60-for-195) with 17 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 45 RBI. She ranked among the MIAA leaders in homes, triples, doubles, RBI slugging percentage and total bases.
For her career at Emporia State, Latendresse ripped 111 hits, including 31 doubles, three triples and 16 home runs. She also drove in 80 runners and posted a slugging percentage of .540.
A three-sport star at Hayden High School in Topeka, Kan., Latendresse garnered All-City and all-league accolades while leading her team to a Kansas 4A State Championship in softball in 1999.
