Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

3/29/2007
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC to host softball challenge this weekend

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The  Johnson County Community College softball team, ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll, will host it annual JCCC Softball Challenge this weekend at the Mid America West Softball Complex in Shawnee, Kan.  The 24 team field includes nationally ranked Division I teams Jefferson College (No. 11), Iowa Western Community College (No. 12), Butler Community College (No. 17), Eastern Oklahoma College (No. 23) and North Central Missouri College (received votes).  Division II ranked teams including the Lady Cavaliers (No. 6), Iowa Lakes Community College (No. 9) and Cowley College (No. 10).  

Kansas Jayhawk Conference schools not ranked in the NJCAA polls who are participating in this challenge are Allen County, Barton County, Coffeyville, Colby, Dodge City, Fort Scott, Highland, Hutchinson, Independence, Kansas City Kansas and Labette.  Rounding out the field are Brown Mackie College, Crowder College , Indian Hills Community College, Iowa Central Community College and Kirkwood Community College.

Individually, this challenge features some of the top players in NJCAA softball, particularly in the circle.  A total of seven pitchers are currently ranked among the top 25 in the country, six coming from Division II programs.  Iowa Central’s Marie Jackson ranks seventh with a 0.323 ERA and a 4-0 record, and her teammate Cassie Grutz ranks 17th with a 0.724 ERA.  JCCC’s Emily Dye ranks 19th overall with a 0.817 earned run average and 6-1 record.  Also ranked in the 25 are Amanda Nelson of Iowa Lakes (No. 13-0.600, 6-0), Lauren Stolte of Kirkwood (No. 15-0.677, 6-1), and Heather Davis of Cowley (No. 20-0.959, 12-2).  In the D-I ranks, Richelle Van Gennip of Crowder ranks 23rd with a 0.875 ERA.

At the plate, a total of 12 players are ranked among the top 50 hitters in Division II, including five in the top 25.  Amie Hubbard of Hutchinson ranks 13th with a .545 average, followed by Danielle Saylor-Perkins at .532.  JCCC’s Tiffany Carter and Krista Cummings, along with Sheena Canady of Kirkwood are tied for 25th with a .500 average. Cummings and Carter also rank among the top 25 in home runs and RBI.  Cummings is second in homers with nine and 12 in RBI with 27. Carter is tied for 16th with 4 home runs, and tied for 14th with 25 RBI. JCCC’s Aubree Brattin also has four home runs and Tracey Anderson, a NFCA All-American last year, is 13th nationally with 26 RBI.

Indian Hills Alllysa Figg is the only D-I player to rank among the top hitters, holding down the fifth spot nationally with a .565 average.