POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College women softball coach Leigh White feels confident the talent is there for a successful 2011 season. The only issue now is experience. “We have more speed on this year team than we had last year,” said White. “It will be a different team. We will probably run a little more. We have some experience, but not much. This team works as hard as last year team.”Following six weeks of fall workouts, White said her eighth team at the school has its good points and bad points. However, matching last year performance might be a challenge. That because her 2010 team finished with a 32-12 record, including the school first MACJC State Championship.”Talk about coming together,” said White. “That team played hard every time it hit the field, whether it was at practice or a game. “Problem is 11 of those players are gone now, including all-state and all-region stars Baleigh Volking and Mykeal Mayes, most of the infield is gone and outfielders as well. Those players not only performed well on the field, but the Lady Wildcat softball team was named an All-Academic team by the NJCAA for the first time in school history. A combined grade-point average of at least 3.00 is required to achieve the distinguished status. PRCC had a team GPA of 3.17. When it comes to returning players, two of the seven sophomores on the team include righthanded pitcher Sheila Hall of Dutchtown, La., and all-state outfielder Brandy Rester of Poplarville. Hall pitched the state championship game last spring, a 2-1 victory over East Central, and Rester hit .418 with a school-record 20 stolen bases. Other pitchers will be righthanders Heather Hester of Picayune and Lauren LeJune of Iota, La., both freshmen. “I feel like we will be where we were last year as far as pitching,” said White. Sophomore Brittney Gary of LaCombe, La., has some experience at catcher and freshman Janessa Dedeaux of Poplarville will add depth. Sophomore Jordan Adams of dIberville has been moved from second to shortstop. She hit nine home runs last year. Freshman Alyssa Graeter of Poplarville has the inside tract at second and sophomore Tiffany Reed of Picayune and freshmen Kasey Watkins and Paris Redd are working at third. White expects freshmen Megan Reynolds of Hancock, ETrareo Watkins of Meridian, Samantha Spence of Lucedale and Taylor Seals of Picayune to provided much-needed depth. Sophomore Lacey Freeman of Forrest County AHS and freshman Kayla Fendlason of Poplarville.As for concerns, “we’ve got to get better at the corners,” said White. “Our bats need more consistency. It not the fact they don’t work hard because they do. They have high expectations. They want to get better. They all get along well with each other. They want to do their jobs.”The Lady Wildcats will kick off the season Feb. 5-6 hosting a five-team tournament. The winner of the South Division will host the eight-team single-elimination state tournament.
Leigh White record
Year Won Lost
2004 26 17
2005 19 14
2006 17 16
2007 25 31
2008 27 10
2009 30 16
2010 32 12
Total 176 116
