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PAGE 9 April 2024
Gadsden State Softball signs 21
High School, where she is a member of the Area Championship Team. Aubrey Kerst racked up many athletic honors as a member of the Villa Rica High School softball team. She was named Regional Pitcher of the Year and Team Pitcher of the Year twice. She was named to the All- Region Team four times. Karli Crocker attends Pickens Academy and also plays travel ball for Druid City Tribe, where she was awarded team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Kennadi Johnson is coming to Gadsden State from Pell City High School, where she played for the team that won the area championship and was a state tournament qualifier twice. Ally Croy, a player at Chattooga High School, is a two-time member of the All-Regional Team and was named to the Georgia All- State Team. Kirby Wisner comes from Clark’s former team at Sylvania High School. Wisner was named to the
Gadsden State's softball program has announced that 21 players have signed with the program and that ten additional have made verbal commitments. “We have a great group of ladies coming to Gadsden State to play softball,” said Coach Ryan Clark. “I am very proud that they will represent our first team after not fielding a team for seven years.” The softball program came to a halt in 2016. Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State, announced in April 2022 that Gadsden State is reinstating softball and baseball. Clark was hired in August. “The opportunity to be the head softball coach is not just a personal achievement for me,” he said. “I am eager to coach this team. We will work hard to build a program that the Gadsden State Cardinal family will be proud of.” On April 2, Gadsden State broke ground on a $10 million softball and baseball complex that will be located in the Gadsden Sports Park. It is expected to be complete in early-2025. Head Coach Mickey Dean, who is in his seventh season at the helm of the Tigers’ program, will step down at the end of the 2024 season. “This was my decision and while it was a difficult one, it is what I felt was best for me and the program moving forward to allow me to focus time on personal matters," said Dean in a recent statement. Dean will continue serving Auburn as a special assistant to the athletic director following the conclusion of the 2024 season. During his tenure, Dean has led Auburn to five NCAA Regional appearances, three 40- win seasons, including the 2023 season which he guided the Tigers to a
saw Dean’s team finish third in the Southeastern Conference, won a series at Alabama for the second time while he’s been at Auburn, and coached the program’s first-ever SEC Pitcher of the Year in Maddie Penta. “I am not from Auburn, but I consider myself an Auburn man as this institution and community has a special place in my heart,” Dean said. “My goal has always been to do what is best for the program and get the program to a point where it can sustain success in an environment that prioritizes the growth of our student-athletes. Words do not properly express my appreciation for Auburn and “Our state-of-the-art complex at Gadsden State is a powerful recruiting tool,” Clark said. “Prospective students are seeing firsthand that investments are being made to ensure their athletic and academic success. It showcases Gadsden State’s commitment to excellence and success.” While he continues to recruit softball players, he is proud of those who have already signed with the Gadsden State Cardinals. “They’re very talented players with a ton of ability,” Clark said. “We play in a very tough conference, and I believe this team will give us an opportunity to come out swinging early on. This is a very competitive group. They’re winners.” Gadsden State's recruits and their achievements are listed below. Abigail Payne of Hokes Bluff High School is a two-time team Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year. She has also been named the All-Area Most Valuable Player and is a two-time member of the All-State Team.
the Auburn family, and I look forward to continuing to serve Auburn.” Auburn’s second winningest coach in program history, Dean’s players have earned seven NFCA All-Region selections, eight All-SEC selections, one NFCA All- American and an SEC Freshman of the Year. "I am grateful to Mickey for his service to Auburn and the care he has for this program and his student athletes," Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen said. "Throughout our many conversations during my time at Auburn, it has been evident how much he values being a part of the Auburn family and appreciates his opportunity to lead this storied program. I know this was a decision that he did Emma Croy has been named to the All-County and All-Area teams twice. She was also named to the All-Messenger Team. She plays at Glencoe High School. Etowah High School’s Lauren Farmer has been named to The Gadsden Times’ 99 Athletes to Watch List. Jasie Brooks is a member of Southside High School’s All-Area Tournament Championship Team and the two- time Etowah County Championship Team. She has been named an All-County and All-Area team member. She is also the winner of Southside High’s 3-D Award for Drive, Determination and Dedication and the GPA Award. Ava Ramsey is also a member of Southside High School’s championship team. She has been voted to two All-Etowah County teams and has earned the Etowah County MVP. Chloe Gattis graduated from Alexandria High School, where the team won the 2022 regional
not take lightly but was one which he felt was ultimately best for Mickey, his family and the continued growth and success of Auburn Softball." In 18 seasons as a head coach, Dean has coached 12 NCAA Tournament teams and is one of four active head coaches nationally to lead three different programs into the NCAA postseason. A native of Elkton, Virginia, Dean has posted a 699-290-1 career record during his tenure at Radford, James Madison, and Auburn. The 2024 Auburn softball team finished the month of March with a 4-1 win over No. 4 Tennessee. The Tigers opened April with three straight wins, defeating Samford, LA Tech, and Georgia Tech. championship and runner- up in the Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A Softball Championship. She was a member of the All-County Team and was named Calhoun County’s Offensive MVP twice. She also received the Team Leader Award. She is currently a general studies student at Gadsden State. Maribeth Parette won a AHSAA 5A Softball Championship at Wetumpka High School in 2023. The team also won three straight area championships. Parette was named the Wetumpka Herald Player of the Week. Ashley Burgess is a member of the Edgewood Academy team. Prior to transferring to Edgewood, she was on the Wetumpka High School team that won a state championship and two area championships twice. Madison Allen is a student at Auburn High School, where she is a member of the flag football state championship team. She was also named to First Team All-State. Rachel McCown attends Madison County
All-Area and All-County teams. Cherokee County High School’s Lanie Williams has been on the All-County and All-Area team rosters three times. Caybree Dobbins of North Sand Mountain High School has earned positions on the All-County Team five times and the All-Area Team twice. Tennley Johnson comes from Oneonta High School, where she was named to the All-Area Team. Reagan Sanders of Oxford High School was named to the All-County and All-Area teams and received the team’s Best Utility Player Award. Ella Kelley of Hamilton High School and Kaitlynn Hatfield of Hewitt- Trussville High School have also committed to the Cardinals. “We feel fortunate to have this group of outstanding athletes,” Clark said. “I’m excited to coach this group and watch them work and grow as athletes. I am ready to see what they can achieve at Gadsden State.”
Auburn Auburn Softball Coach To Step Down at End of Season 43-19 mark and a top 20 finish nationally. The 2023 season University Softball
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
The Auburn Tigers concluded the 2024 men's basketball season earlier then expected, falling to Yale 78-76 in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament in Spokane, WA. The Tigers finished the year with a 27-8 overall record. Dylan Cardwell (#44) had 185 points and 129 rebounds this season and he saw action in all of Auburn's 35 games. Auburn Falls Early
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Kade Snell delivers a pitch for Alabama during the Crimson Tide's 11- 10 victory over Samford on April 3. The program has dropped four straight games since the win to move to 22-11 on the season. Alabama was set to host top ranked Arkansas on April 12-14 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama Baseball Defeats Samford Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
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