Former W.S. Neal High School softball standout and Jefferson Davis Community College Lady Warhawk Kaitlin Hadaway may have recently closed out her junior college career, but her legacy will go on a little longer as she has put herself in the JDCC record book.
Hadaway recently wrapped up her sophomore season with 20 wins, 175 strikeouts and a 1.77 earned run average. She was named first team All-South Conference and first team All-Region. She will end her career as the leader in single season wins at 20 and career wins at 30. She will also be second in career strikeouts with 299.
JDCC head coach Misti Nims said Hadaway not only has excelled on the field but also has many academic accolades that will follow.
“I was so ecstatic that she stayed local and helped JDCC have the best season under since I have been here,” Nims said. “Kaitlin has been a pleasure to work with. She has worked hard over her career and about mid-season, she started to get many looks.”
Nims added that she was receiving two or three e-mails a week from various Division-II, Division-III, and NAIA schools interested in Hadaway.
“However, Kaitlin has decided to pursue her academics full time at Auburn University,” Nims said. “I cannot say how much she will be missed next year. After 14 years here at JDCC, it is always hard to say goodbye to any player after two years but even more to an impact player like Kaitlin. She ranks up there with Nikki Madden from 2004-06, Ashleigh Allgood 2007-09, and Brittany Linton 2009-11, who all had great success on the mound,” Nims said. “I wish her the best in her journey and I only hope we can fill her shoes next year. Kaitlin has been a gem for Jefferson Davis Community College Softball.”
Hadaway said setting records just shows all the hard work that she has put in this season.
“Of course, I would have never been able to set any records without my teammates backing me up,” she said. “I wasn’t really focused on records both years that I played. I was mostly concerned with the overall team stats sand the season record. I really just focused on every game and doing the best I could that day.”
Hadaway said she feels very accomplished from her two years at JDCC.
“I went in focused on my grades and playing softball and in the end, I set school records,” she said. “That really wasn’t a personal goal but it feels great at the end. I am very thankful for having the opportunity to play at the next level. I have had a great time playing for Coach Nims and with all my teammates these past two years. I have truly made life long friends and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”