MCC Softball Holds Special Signing Ceremony

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College softball team held a very special signing ceremony on Wednesday afternoon at the Castell Gallery as five sophomores officially signed to the next level. The majority of the players that were represented on Wednesday afternoon signed with the Mississippi University of Women, while one player signed with Belhaven University. The 2017 sophomore class that signed to the next level on Wednesday afternoon was one of the largest sophomore classes to sign in recent memory by the MCC softball program.

The four players that signed to play next season at the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS included: Brianna Duquette (Belle Chase, LA), Kandler Flora (Mathiston, MS), Anna Lloyd (Batesville, MS), and Courtney Moore (Clinton, MS). The only other player to officially sign a scholarship on Wednesday afternoon was Mia Johnson (Plaquemine, LA) who inked with Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. Mycahla Howard (Santa Fe, TX) was also included in the ceremony and is expected to sign with Concordia University at a later date.

The signing class was highlighted by catcher Brianna Duquette who has turned in an impressive sophomore campaign for the Lady Eagles this season and will continue her career next season at the Mississippi University for Women. Duquette currently leads the MCC softball team this season in batting average at .384 and has also drove in 13 runs. Duquette also has one home run to her credit this season and has scored nine runs, while playing solid defense as the catcher for MCC.

The second player highlighted on Wednesday was sophomore outfielder Kandler Flora as she also signed with the Mississippi University for Women. Flora has had a solid 2017 season at the plate for MCC with a .315 average and has scored 13 runs. Flora has been one of the biggest threats on base this season for MCC has she has collected 12 stolen bases.

The third player that signed with the Mississippi University for Women on Wednesday afternoon was sophomore outfielder Anna Lloyd. The Batesville, MS native will bring plenty of experience and speed to her new team next season as she currently leads MCC in the stolen base department with 20. Lloyd is currently second on the team with a .373 batting average and has scored 25 runs which is also tops on the team this season.

The fourth and final player to ink with the Mississippi University for Women on Wednesday was first baseman Courtney Moore. The Clinton, MS native will look to provide plenty of power to the lineup next season for MUW as currently leads MCC this season in doubles at 11 and has also tallied a .313 batting average in 2017. Moore had also driven in 16 runs this season and has scored 12 times this season for MCC.

The lone player to ink with Belhaven University in Jackson, MS on Wednesday was shortstop Mia Johnson. The Plaquemine, LA native is currently the leader in home runs this season for MCC at three and ranks third on the team in batting average at .353. Johnson has also drive in 12 runs this season for MCC and has crossed the plate on 15 different occasions.

The final player that was recognized as a part of the ceremony on Wednesday was Mycahla Howard who plans on signing with Concordia University at a later date. Howard has primarily played third base this season for MCC and leads the team in RBIs with 19 and has also scored nine runs this season for the Lady Eagles.

MCC is currently in the final home stretch of its 2017 season and will return to action on Friday with a road trip to Pearl River Community College for a conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. MCC will play its final home games of the 2017 season on April 19 at Tommy McDonald Field against Coahoma Community College at 3 p.m. The final home games next Wednesday will also give Meridian Community College an opportunity to honor the 2017 class of sophomore players of the MCC softball program.