MCC Softball Set to Open 2017 Season

From School Reports

The 2017 Meridian Community College softball season is set to open this weekend as the Eagles will travel to Gulf Shores, AL  to compete in the Faulkner State Tournament. The outlook for the MCC softball squad is extremely positive as eight sophomores will return for the 2017 season. The Lady Eagles finished the 2016 season with an overall record of 13-29 and fell just one game short of reaching the postseason since once again joining the MACJC. MCC head coach Faith Robinson is entering her fifth season at the helm of the MCC softball program and is very encouraged about the number of key returning players from last season.

“From the day we signed this group of sophomores, I knew we had a tough group.” Said Robinson. “Even with the few bumps and bruises that every team has to face, I still believe that this is the best team to date since I have been at Meridian.”

MCC will rely on the speed and power of three returning sophomore outfielders for the 2017 season that should provide plenty of leadership as well. Anna Lloyd is one of those top returning players from a season ago and will look to build on her impressive freshman season as a Lady Eagle. Lloyd, a former North Delta High star, led the team in batting average in 2016 at .393 and drove in 18 runs, while leading the team in stolen bases with 16. Kandler Flora and Ivey Brewer will join Lloyd in the outfield this season and both will bring something to the table for the MCC squad. Flora, a former East Webster High star, will see most of her action in center field this season and is the biggest threat on the base paths. Brewer, a former George County High star, will also be patrolling in the outfield for MCC and will bring plenty of power in the middle of the lineup in 2017. Brewer finished last season with a .293 batting average and drove in seven runs for the Lady Eagles, but will look to have a breakout season in 2017.

The Lady Eagles will also return a wealth of experience at most of its infield positions that should provide a boost in 2017. Mycahla Howard is the top returning starter on the infield this season for MCC and led the team in several offensive categories in 2016. Howard finished last season with a .375 batting average and led the team in home runs with six and was second on the team in RBI’s with 26. Howard also led the team in slugging percentage last season at .600 and was named a member of the MACJC 1^st team All-State. Howard will be joined by Mia Johnson and KeeLee Ladnier at other infield positions this season for the Lady Eagles. Johnson will bring great defensive skills to the middle infield positions for MCC, while Ladnier will see some time at first base. Ladnier led MCC in RBI’s last season with 29 and finished the year with a .319 batting average. The Lady Eagles will also be returning its starting catcher from last season in Brianna Duquette and Ariel Allgood will also battle for some playing time this season as a returning sophomore. Sophomore Alex Riser, a former Clarkdale High star, has also developed over the offseason for the Lady Eagles, and should contribute at the plate as well.

MCC did have two offseason transfers that should help the squad and those include: Courtney Moore (East Central CC) and Kat Inman (Hinds CC). Moore will look to battle for playing time at first base, while Inman will look to provide quality innings on the mound for the Lady Eagles.

The Lady Eagles will also welcome in several new freshman this season that should make a splash on the field. The biggest addition this season from the freshman class will be a pair of pitchers that include: Tiana Boutte of Lagrange High School in Lake Charles, LA and Mackenzie Harvey of New Hope High School. Other incoming freshman that will look to make an impact this season include: Kaylie Delapaz (Taylorsville), Elexis Brice (Moss Point), Jayla Poindexter (Moss Point), Reagan Autmon (Moss Point), and Saige Brewer (George County). The Lady Eagles will also welcome in former West Lauderdale star Abbe Bates that should provide a spark from the local area and Chandler Moore of West Jones High School is of course very familiar with Meridian Community College athletics in general. Chandler’s older brother Tyler was an All-American on the MCC baseball team in the past and has also played at the Major League level.

MCC will open its season Friday with three games in the Faulkner State Tournament against Spring Hill, Central Alabama, and Dothan. The games on Friday begin at 11:15 for the Lady Eagles to open the 2017 season. MCC will also host the annual Rush Invitational Tournament that will take place February 24-25 at Northeast Park in which some of the top programs in the Southeast will be participating. The first official home games at Tommy McDonald Field in Highland Park will be March 7 against Hinds Community College in conference action. MCC will be hosting several important home dates at Tommy McDonald Field and those include: Co-Lin (March 10), Jones (March 19), EMCC (March 28), Gulf Coast (April 1), Holmes (April 8), and Coahoma (April 19).