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

Story by Tyler Cundith
2/13/06

Expectations high for the 2006 softball  team

One sign of a solid NJCAA fastpitch softball program comes when a team loses many fine players to graduation, yet still manages to continue its winning ways.  Head coach Frank Barnes has mastered  the revolving door of players at the community college level during his nine seasons at Johnson County Community College.

Since taking over the program, Barnes has logged 445 victories, an average of 49.4 wins a season.  In his nine years at JCCC, he has led JCCC to four conference titles, six Region VI championships, earned five berths in the NJCAA National Tournament, and has been ranked in the NJCAA preseason coaches poll each year, including a No. 8 ranking this season.

“Our success can be attributed to each individual’s work ethic and their ability to understand their capabilities and limitations,”  Barnes said.  “They also realize that it is going to take all of them working together to get it done and that by playing sound, fundamental softball, good things will result.”

The 2006 JCCC softball team again reveals the potential to contend for the national championship.  This year’s squad possesses a winning combination of experienced sophomore leaders, explosive bats and a promising young freshman class.

One of the mainstays of the sophomore class is pitcher Katie Jeannin, a second-team NJCAA and NFCA All-America selection as a freshman.  Jeannin led the NJCAA with a 0.33 earned run average.  She also posted a season mark of 19-4 and recorded 136 strikeouts.  She ranked 36th nationally with a strikeout per inning ratio of 0.805. 

Also back this season are All-Region VI and All-East Jayhawk Conference performers Megan Goings, MacKenzie Magenheimer and Jennifer Narcomey.  Goings, the team’s catcher, hit .385 (40-of-104)  with nine doubles,  two home runs and 21 RBI last season.  Magenheimer, the tam’s first baseman batted .418 (56-for-134) with 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 38 RBI.  Narcomey, the projected starter in centerfield, hit a .343 clip (47-for-137) with two doubles, two triples and 21 RBI.

Rounding out the 2006 returning players are outfielders Amanda Forbis and Danielle Huff.   Forbis is slated to start the season in right field, and Huff will start in left field.

Barnes also has produced a stellar freshman class that not only adds valuable depth, but several players will be key producers and make a major impact this season.  The newcomers include:  pitcher Jessi Alford, infielder/outfielder Tracey Anderson, pitcher Talia Bodine, catcher Aubree Bratlin, infielder Megan Lee, infielder Katie Mathis, pitcher Sam Overman, infielder Jill Peters, outfielder Ashley Scates and infielder/outfielder Lindsey Wolf.

Undoubtedly, a team with so much firepower, expectations will be high.  Consequently, it is no surprise Johnson County has been picked to contend for the conference and region titles in 2006.

The Lady Cavaliers will again be tested this season as the competition will be fierce as Region VI will once again be one of the toughest in the country.  In addition to their always-competitive schedule in the East Jayhawk and Region VI, JCCC also will compete again this year in the Okaloosa-Walton Tournament in Florida.  Eight teams on JCCC’s schedule either earned a ranking or received votes in the NJCAA Division I or Division II Coaches Poll. 

“In the conference and region, we’re going to be everyone’s game of the year, so we will be facing some tremendous challenges,”  Barnes said.  “We must focus on one game at a time and do the little things right.  We believe that builds confidence in each player, which in turn promotes confidence in each other, and that’s how we’ve been successful.”

Powerful at the plate and in the circle, JCCC’s dedicated coaching staff has spent the majority of the fall practice preparing the team  mentally and physically for the upcoming season.  By melding the maturity, skill and leadership of experienced collegiate players with the talent of newcomers, the 2006 JCCC softball team should reach its potential.