Softball signs 13 for 2012-13

The MGCCC Lady Bulldogs softball team is hoping for more success in 2012-13.

Kenneth Long thinks his latest crop of softball signees is one of the best he’s ever had during his tenure as head coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

That’s saying something considering the Lady Bulldogs recent success on the diamond, which includes three trips to the NJCAA D-II National Tournament in the last five years, three MACJC and Region 23 titles, and five MACJC South Division crowns since 2002.

Recently Long signed 13 high school seniors that he thinks will contribute as soon as they make it to the college’s Perkinston Campus next season. The 2012-13 class includes:

Brooke Gaston, a senior at Olive Branch High School. In 2011 she received All-Conference honors and the Leadership Award for Olive Branch High School(6A). She ended the season with an impressive .500 batting average and is amember of the MS Elite and Collierville Dragons travel teams, where she made the All-World Travel Team during her career.

Shalaria Pickens, a senior at Wayne County High School. Pickens was the team’s Offensive MVP in 2010 and 2011 and was a 2011 Second Team All-State honoree. In 2010,Shalaria received First Team All-State recognition. She is a member of the MS Elite travel team.

Brianna Farr, a senior at Pontotoc High School. Brianna is a Best Offensive Player and All-District Award honoree. In 2011, Brianna batted .516 with an on base percentage of .625. She is a member of Southern Pulse and Collierville Dragons travel teams.

Catherine Campbell, a senior at East Central High School. During her career she has earned awards for Best Defensive Player, Offensive MVP, the East Central High “Hornet Award”, All-District, and District MVP. Catherine is also a four-yearAll-Academic honoree and is a member of Crossfire travel team.

Dani Craft, a senior at D’Iberville High School. Dani was named Sun Herald Female Athlete of the Year, and is a Wendy’s Scholar Athlete Award honoree. She was recognized as an All-District player as well as earning team awards for Best Offensive and Best Defensive Player. She’ s also played in the Future’s All-Star Game and is a member of Coastal Chaos travel team.

Jamie Desporte, a senior at St. Martin High School. She has received All-District and Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors and is a member of Renegade Vibe travel team.

Ashley Hickman, a senior at St. Martin High School. She has been awarded Co-Most Valuable Player in the District along with earning All-District and Sun Herald All-Coast Team recognition. Ashley has also received the Wendy’s Heisman Award and Clarion Ledger Player of the Week honors. In 2010 and 2011, she was a member of the Gulf Coast Futures team.

Sarah Dodd, a senior at Picayune High School. Sarah received All-District honors for four years and played in the Mississippi All-Star game. She earned Best Defensive Player honors for two seasons and as a junior she was an All-State and District MVP.

Caitlin Bazzone, a senior at East Central High School. She earned a Golden Glove Award, MVP honors, and was recognized for having the teams’ highest batting average. In 2009 she was a member of the school’s State Champion team, and currently she is a member of the Crossfire travel team.

Hallie Frenn, a senior at Saltillo High School. Frenn has been recognized as her team’s Defensive MVP along with Player of the year and JV Player of the Year honors. She has also received All-Division honors in four straight seasons.

Taylor Norris, a senior at Grenada High School. Norris has been recognized as her team’s Best Defensive Player and Team Captain, and has received her team’s Most Improved Defensively and Offensively awards. She is a member of MS Elite, Mid-South Fusion, and Germantown ‘Gold’ Red Devils travel teams.

Paige Breal, a senior at St. Martin High School. Paige pitched two undefeated Junior Varsity seasons and was an All-Division, All-District honoree as a sophomore and junior. She also earned Pitcher of the Year honors as a junior and played in the All-Star game. She was a member of the Full Count travel team.

Emily Davis, a senior at Newton County High School. She received the team’s Pitching Award in her sophomore and junior years, and the All-Freshman Award as a ninth grader. Davis was an All-State and All-District honoree, and in 2011, Emily received Gatorade Player of the Year honors and was recognized as her team’s Defensive MVP.

The current Lady Bulldogs began the season 2-0 and are coming off a 2011 season which resulted in an MACJC South Division title and recognition from the NJCAA as the Nation’s leader in fielding percentage (.963), which included 829 put outs, 418 assists & 48 errors.