T he S ports L edger
PAGE 11 www.TheSportsLedger.com
JANUARY 2023
Following a historic 2022 season, Snead State Community College’s softball team has reloaded and is ready for another run to the JUCO Division I Softball World Series. Last spring, the Lady Parsons finished runner-up in the ACCC Tournament Championship and became the first team in school history to win a game in the World Series. Snead State, who finished 37-27 overall, qualified for the World Series after winning the NJCAA Mid-Atlantic District Tournament. Lady Parsons head coach Tracy Grindrod, who has led the program since 2014, said he is looking forward to seeing how this year’s squad can build on such a successful season, but it will come down to how a plethora of talented newcomers perform. “It all comes down to the recruiting class coming in. We lose half of our team every year, and that’s one of the biggest challenges being a junior college,” Grindrod said. “But it also kind of depends on how many starters you’ve had that were sophomores versus freshmen. Last season we had a good nucleus of freshmen that played. We had three starters that were freshman and then a bunch that played, so they got a lot of game time in. I expect those ladies to step up and step in to take the starting roles in several spots. “Our incoming freshman class is one of the best we’ve had in probably the last four to five years. So, we don’t just have two or three great athletes. We’ve got more like 12, so we’re really loaded that way, so we’re looking forward to what they can do.” Grindrod said one of the strengths of his team will be his pitching staff, including two sophomores returning from last season Reagan Cornelius and Ashlynn Hallman. Cornelius, a left-hander from Springville made 23 appearances in 2022. She started 14 games, finishing 7-9 with one save and a 3.54 ERA. She pitched 10 complete games. Over 108.2 innings, Cornelius recorded 87 strikeouts and allowed 130 hits, 10 homeruns. As a hitter, she batted .300 in 10 at-bats, recording three hits, one RBI and one walk. Hallman, a right-hander from Coaling (Brookwood HS), appeared in 12 games last season. She started six games, finishing 2-3 with a 7.00 ERA. She pitched two complete games. Over 34 innings, Hallman tallied 21 strikeouts, allowing 55 hits and four homeruns. Grindrod also mentioned a pair of freshmen, Lydia West and Brittany Slaten, that he expected to be thrown into the pitching rotation and also get lots of time in the infield. “We expect those two to step into starting roles and really contribute right away this year,” Grindrod said. Slaten, a right-handed pitcher and switch-hitting shortstop from Guntersville, will fill a void after the Lady Parsons lost their two-year starter at shortstop, Grindrod said. He described Slaten as a “speedster.” Grindrod called West, a right-handed pitcher and first base player from Geraldine, a “big hitter.” Other freshmen he sees making an impact included Riley Sharp, MacKenzie Smith and Addie Walker. Sharp, from Gurley (Madison County HS) plays first base. Grindrod said she was a “big, lefty power hitter,” who performed at a high level in the fall. Smith, who plays catcher and first base, is from Eclectic (Elmore County HS) Grindrod said she played “unintimidated” throughout the fall. “She hit against everyone we put her against,” he said. “She’s one of the most consistent hitters among our freshmen.” Walker, also a catcher, hails from Hartselle (Falkville HS). Grindrod said she also shined during fall play. But anchoring the team this season will be veteran Zoe Payne, who returns this season as the Lady Parsons’ starting catcher from a year ago. “She’ll really help us out working with our younger pitching staff,” Grindrod said. “She’ll be able to anchor the catcher position and know how to train our younger catchers coming up.” Payne, a sophomore from Oneonta (Appalachian HS) played in 42 games in 2022. In 26 at-bats she averaged .213, recording 13 hits, 11 RBIs and 13 walks. “I’m pleased with what we have overall,” Grindrod said of his team. “From what we developed in the fall, this team has shown they have a winning attitude,” he added. “They never give up. They played against a lot of Division I and Division II players, and they competed really well. So, I look forward to them carrying that over into the spring.” Snead will begin the season at the 2023 Sand Mountain Classic to be played at Sand Mountain Park in Albertville. “We’ve got most of the Alabama and Tennessee teams coming, and East Mississippi schools will be there, too. So, it will be a bit of a border battle, but it will be really good competition and a good opportunity to get in a few games early and really see what we’ve got. With so many games in two days, we’ll get a chance to play everybody and see where everyone is at, so it’s going to be a really good start for us.” Currently, the Lady Parsons are scheduled to play Northwest-Shoals Community College on Jan. 27 at 10 a.m., followed by Motlow State Community College at 12:30 p.m., and Walters State Community College at 3 p.m. On Jan. 28, the Lady Parsons will take on East Mississippi Community College at 10 a.m. Jax State has approved women's bowling. The Gamecocks will begin competition in their newest NCAA- sponsored sport in the 2023-24 academic season and will practice and host their home competitions at Big Time Entertainment in Oxford. The state-of-the-art facility opened in 2021 and features lanes built specifically for competition that meet NCAA standards. Jax State plans to compete in Conference USA in the 2023-24 season and will immediately begin a search to find a head coach to take the reins in the implementation of the program. Considered one of the NCAA's winter sports, the women's bowling's season runs from October through the end of March each year. JSU Adds Bowling SSCC Softball To Begin Season
Photos by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Snead State Community College head baseball coach Casey Underwood was recently named the 2022 Alabama Baseball Coaches Association’s Regional Coach of the Year for NJCAA Division I. In his fourth year at the helm, Underwood led Snead State to a historic season in 2022 that ended with the program’s first-ever Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Championship and a trip to the NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series. “It is an honor to receive the ALABCA's Coach of the Year award,” Underwood said. “This award is truly a team award and would not have been possible without our team, coaching staff, and their hard work on and off the field. I also want to thank our college and community for supporting our baseball program.” In addition to the ALABCA, Underwood was named the 2022 ACCC Coach of the Year after coaching the Parsons to a 42-14 record — the most wins in a single season in school history. “This is a well-deserved honor,” Snead State President Dr. Joe Whitmore said of Underwood’s recognitions. “Coach Underwood is so much more than a coach to these young men. He has a great baseball mind and is as competitive as anyone, but his real strengths are developing our student athletes into productive citizens and great young men. He prioritizes academics, community involvement, sportsmanship, and teamwork above all else. Snead State is proud to have him as a leader in our athletic department. Underwood has coached Snead State’s baseball team since 2018, compiling a 120-55 overall record. Underwood was previously named co-Coach of the Year in 2021 by the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association. The Jacksonville State University Baseball program is slated to play 30 games this spring on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. The Gamecocks home opener is on Feb. 24 against Missouri Valley Conference member, Southern Illinois in the first of a three-game weekend series. After a season-opening trip to UGA, Jax State will play 15-of-its-next-20 games on its home turf, including a 13- game homestand that spans most of the month of March. The homestand features the opening series with Southern Illinois (Feb. 24-26), Bradley (March 3-5), South Alabama (March 10-12) along with a visit by the 2021 defending national champion Rebels of Ole Miss (March 14). Football programs around the country honored former Mississippi State football Coach Mike Lynch, who passed away on December 12, 2022 from a heart condition. One of these programs, was his own team, who rallied late for a 19-10 victory over Illinois in Tampa Florida's ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly and better known as the Outback Bowl). Both team's had helmets that paid tribute to Lynch and the coach was honored during pre-game ceremonies. Lynch was also honored with a photo display on the Pirate's Ship at Raymond James Stadium. Following the game quarterback Will Rogers (#2) even carried a flag around the field in honor of his former coach. Rogers finished the ReliaQuest Bowl with 261 yards and a touchdown. Mississippi State Wins Bowl Game
Underwood Named 2022 NJCAA Coach of The Year
Photo Courtesy of Snead State
Snead State Head Baseball Coach Casey Underwood (left) was presented the 2022 Alabama Baseball Coaches Association’s Regional Coach of the Year Award for NJCAA Division I on Dec. 9, 2022. Pictured with Underwood are Auburn University head coach Butch Thompson (center), who was named the association’s NCAA Division I Coach of the Year, and Barry Dean (right), who is president and executive director of the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association. Before being named head coach, he worked for 13 years as assistant coach for the Parsons. In 2014, Underwood was awarded Assistant Coach of the Year by the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association. Underwood played baseball at Snead State from 2003-2005. Season tickets for the 2023 JSU baseball season are on sale now. Single game tickets go on sale, Feb. 1. JSU is offering a pair of season ticket packages. Reserved premium chair-back seating behind the plate and along the third base line are available for $225. General admission season ticket packages are priced at $100. The general admission season tickets are standing room-only along the concourse behind the reserved seats. Another option for Gamecock fans will be hospitality area at Jim Case Stadium. Tickets in the climate-controlled hospitality room are on sale for $350. To reserve your spot visit JSUGamecockSports.com or call 256-789-8499.
JSU Baseball Home Opener is Feb. 24
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker