JCCC Opens Softball Season

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College softball team is off to a 4-0 start to the 2005 season, sweeping Ottawa to open the campaign, and Labette in the East Jayhawk Conference season opener. JCCC downed Ottawa 9-0 and 12-0, and blasted Labette 26-1 and 16-3. JCCC 25-run margin and 26 total runs tie for eighth all-time. The combined 42 runs are the fourth highest total scored in a doubleheader.

In the season opener, freshman left-handed pitcher Katie Jeannin of Tonganoxie etched her name in the JCCC record books, hurling a no-hitter. She is just the second left-hander to record a no-hit game, and the first ever to throw one on opening day. Jeannin also was effective with her bat, going 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Another Katie also provided a big bat. Freshman Katie Snelling of Newton, Kan. went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Freshman Jennifer Narcomy of Lawrence, Kan., also collected two singles.

In the second game, sophomore pitcher Ashley McDougal nearly repeated Jeannin performance, allowing just one-hit with three strikeouts.

Sophomore Tristin Brown, one of the nation’s top hitters last year, went 2-for-4, with a double and four RBI. Freshman Amanda Woolley of Kansas City Kan., drove in three runners on a 2-for-3 day, and freshman Amanda Goings of Derby, Kan, had two RBI.

In the conference opener against Labette, JCCC ripped the Cardinals pitching staff for 13 hits, including 14 extra base hits. Sophomore Stacy Couch, a 2004 NJCAA and NFCA All-American, pounded out four hits, including a double and home run and drove in five runners. Her four hits and five RBIs are career highs.

Sophomore April Huddleston pounded out three extra base hits, a double and two home runs. She matched Couch’s RBI production, driving in a five runs, also a career high. It is also the first time she has belted two homers in one game.

Woolley also had a five RBI effort, and finished with two doubles and a triple. Sophomore Jessica Lambeth went 3-for-5, with a double and triple and 3 RBI, Snelling was 3-for-4, with a double and three RBI, and Jeannin ripped two doubles.

JCCC continued its batting practice in the second game, led by Brown’s 3-for-4 game that included two doubles and 5 RBI. Snelling and freshman Kathy Kiblinger of Piper also collected three hits. One of Snelling’s hits was a double and she drove in two runners. Kiblinger ripped two doubles and drove in a run. Jeannin had two hits and two RBI, Huddleston had a double and two RBI, and Goings pounded out two doubles and drove in two runners.