The 2013 recruiting class for the Jefferson Davis Community College softball team is complete and it will feature several players with local ties to the area on it.
“After losing 12 players from last year’s team, seven of them starters, we have big shoes to fill,” JDCC head coach Misti Nims said. “The face of the 2013-2014 softball team will include 15 new faces to add to the seven returning sophomores. I am very excited about this upcoming year. After a third place finish in conference and qualifying for the state tournament, I want this upcoming year to be something extra special. We have a lot of local talent coming in, and with this being my first year in 10 years only coaching one sport, I know I will be able to spend those extra hours on the field, and looking at video that I have not been able to do in the past.”
Nims said that of her 15 recruits, seven are local players—with three coming from W.S. Neal and T.R. Miller.
“It has been a long time since we have had this many local players on our team,” Nims said. “This is a testament to the dedication of these young ladies and their high school coaches. The talent is getting better and better every year as well as the interest in softball. I hope that we can continue adding local talent to our program.”
From W.S. Neal will be Kaitlin Hadaway and Kena Ellison will join the team as a walk on.
“Kaitlin will have an immediate impact on our pitching staff,” Nims said. “Kaitlin is a fighter and a leader. She is coming off a great high school career helping her team to the area championship and qualifying for the regional tournament. She is a strikeout pitcher who averages 10 strikeouts a game. She will without doubt elevate our pitching staff and we are very excited to have her. Kena will walk-on to the team. She was a huge part of the area championship for W.S. Neal at second base. She is fast, tough, and aggressive. She will have to battle for a starting role, but I feel with a little work on her slap game and strengthening her throwing arm, you will see her on the field.”
From T.R. Miller, Audrey Hamric joins the JDCC team.
“Audrey will step in either in the outfield or at the catcher’s position,” Nims said. “She is also coming off a great high school career earning a trip to the regional tournament as well. She has a lot of speed and her knowledge of the game, which will propel her to a starting role.”
Other local players will come to JDCC from Jay High School, Flomaton, and Northview High School in Florida.
“Brittany Gillman from Jay High is an outfielder and second baseman,” Nims said. “She led her team to a district championship her senior year and was the state runner-up her junior year. She is fast, smart, and dedicated. I expect her to step in and earn a starting role. Ariane McClammey from Flomaton High is an outfielder. She is fast and has a strong arm. She has a passion to get better and with a little work with her bat, she could be a force to be reckoned with. Megan Lambeth from Flomaton High is a catcher but can play other positions in the infield. She has a strong arm and is quick behind the plate. She has potential to be a powerful hitter thus being a huge threat. Morgan Payne from Northview High will also walk-on to the team. She is coming off a great career. She is a first baseman with a lot of power. I feel that after some work with her bat, she could be a potential threat.”
Alicia Richardson is from Pelham High is a catcher and outfielder.
“Her team was ranked No. 1 in class 6A and played at the state tournament,” Nims said. “Alicia is a gamer. She loves the game and loves to work hard. She is a power hitter and will bring a wealth of experience to the team. Expect her to win a starting role.”
Tara Cole comes to JDCC from Citronelle High School and is a pitcher and third baseman.
“Tara is an all around player,” Nims said. “She can hit, field, and pitch. She will have an impact on our pitching staff. She has a gun at third base and you will see her as a starter somewhere on the field. She has a passion for the game like no other.”
Joi McCants comes to JDCC from West Florida Tech High in Pensacola and Paige Wooley comes from Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach.
“Joi plays shortstop,” Nims said. “She is coming off a great high school career. She is tall and has tremendous range. She has a lot of potential that should improve everyday allowing her to earn a starting role. She is fast and carries a great bat. Paige is a second baseman with speed. She is a great slapper with total bat control. She has great range on the diamond. She has the love for the game that will get her a starting role at second base.”
Caroline Clark and Jami Huggins will also join Nims at JDCC.
“Caroline is a catcher from Kingwood Christian in Alabaster,” Nims said. “They finished runner-up in AISA (Alabama Independent School Association) state tournament. She has a powerful bat and is a hard worker. She is a great catcher who will only get quicker behind the plate. She will have to fight for a starting role but I feel that she is going to surprise a lot of people. Jami is a transfer from Judson College. She attended Brookwood High in Tuscaloosa, and is a second baseman that can play multiple positions. She has much knowledge of the game and is a strong fielder. Her sister, Sarah, played for me and she continued her career at Huntingdon College.”
Audra Forbes and Moriah Trujillo round out the JDCC recruits for Nims.
“Audra is from Baldwin County High in Bay Minette and plays shortstop and third base,” Nims said. “Audra sat out a year and is now ready to get back on the field. She has great range and packs a punch with the bat. Moriah is from Covenant Christian Academy in Houma, Louisiana. Moriah is a teammate of current player Rachel Seitz. She plays third base and is also a catcher. She has a great arm and a powerful bat.”
Nims said she is excited about this class and expects them to add much depth to her team. “What I like most about this group is that the majority of them can play multiple positions,” she said. “They will join two All-Conference members in Breanna Hall (pitcher and second base) and Laura Zeegers (right field and designated player) along with Courtney Lowery (catcher), Seitz (short stop and pitcher), Mindy Walker (first and third base), Kaitlyn Kenfield (centerfield), and Jessica Swindle (pitcher and first base).