MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Rushing, Bounds, Evans (45th), Hood, Mickens, Miles, Roberson, Shirley, Walker, White
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE LADY WARRIORS SOFTBALL TEAM UPON THEIR OUTSTANDING 2015 SEASON.
WHEREAS, the East Central Community College (ECCC) Lady Warriors Softball Team had an exceptional 2015 season, finishing with a 48-14 record under third-year Head Coach Kristin Chaney; and
WHEREAS, 11 of their 14 losses during the 2015 season were to teams ranked in the Top 20 of the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Softball Poll; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Warriors finished second in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) South Division with a 22-6 record and qualified for the MACJC State Playoffs; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Warriors finished second in the MACJC State Tournament held at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, where three of the four participating teams were ranked in the top 11 in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Warriors finished second at the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament, also held at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, where all four participating teams were ranked in the top 11 in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Warriors earned a berth in the 16-team, double elimination 2015 NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship held in Clinton, Mississippi, on May 13-16, 2015, and the No. 5 seed Lady Warriors were 6-2 over the four-day tournament, including a win over No. 1 seed Phoenix College; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Warriors battled back from the losers bracket to win four straight games, including two on the final day, before falling to Kankakee Community College in the finals 5-1 and finishing as the No. 2 team in the nation, the highest-ever finish for the college's softball team; and
WHEREAS, freshman outfielder Katlyn Duke of Neshoba Central High School won the Marucci Elite Hitter Award as the tournament's top batter, and freshman first baseman Mahalia Gibson of Oak Grove High School, freshman pitcher Lacey Hill of Kilbourne High School, and sophomore second baseman Mallory Turner of West Lauderdale High School were named to the National All-Tournament Team; and
WHEREAS, three members of the Lady Warriors were recognized as the national and/or state player or pitcher of the week during the regular season, including: freshman pitcher Chloe Thaggard of Leake Academy, MACJC State Pitcher of the Week (two times) and NJCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Week (two times); Lacey Hill, MACJC State Pitcher of the Week and NJCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Week; and freshman shortshop Maegen Ellis of Oak Hill Academy in West Point, MACJC State Player of the Week; and
WHEREAS, several members of the Lady Warriors received other postseason recognition, including: Mahalia Gibson, NJCAA First-Team All-American, the first for ECCC since 2001, All-Region 23, and First-Team All-State; Lacey Hill, All-Region 23; Chloe Thaggard, All-Region 23; and Maegen Ellis, First-Team All-State; and
WHEREAS, several members of the Lady Warriors were recognized by their coaches for their hard work, dedication and superior play in 2015, including: Maegen Ellis, Baserunning Award; Mallory Turner, Hustle Award; sophomore catcher Karoline Holsonback of South Lamar High School, Most Improved Award; Lacey Hill and Chloe Thaggard, co-recipients of the Pitching Award; Katlyn Duke, Most Outstanding Defense Award; Mahalia Gibson, Most Outstanding Offense Award and Most Valuable Player Award; and sophomore third baseman Anna Katherine Nowell of Leake Academy, Lady Warrior Award and Scholar-Athlete Award; and
WHEREAS, Head Softball Coach Kristin Chaney notched her 100th career victory on April 21, 2015, when her Lady Warriors shutout Pearl River Community College 9-0 in the second game of a doubleheader; and
WHEREAS, the ECCC Softball Team was named both the NJCAA and MACJC Women's Softball Academic Team of the Year for compiling an overall 3.63 grade-point average; and
WHEREAS, several Lady Warriors received individual academic honors, including: Anna Katherine Nowell, NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence and MACJC Distinguished Academic All-State; Karoline Holsonback, NJCAA Award for Superior Academic Achievement and MACJC Distinguished Academic All-State; and Mallory Turner, NJCAA Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement and MACJC Academic All-State; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Lady Warriors developed a winning and cooperative spirit and a high degree of sportsmanship, and their activities and attitude on and off the field reflect great credit upon the individual players and their coaches and bring honor to East Central Community College, the team members' parents and hometown communities, and the State of Mississippi as they have achieved these accolades the ECCC way, "Excellence with Class"; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend excellence, especially when evidenced by the young adults of our state, who are its future:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the East Central Community College Lady Warriors Softball Team, Head Coach Kristin Chaney and Assistant Coach Courtney Nunn for their outstanding 2015 season and extend best wishes for continued success in all of their future academic and athletic endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the East Central Community College Lady Warriors Softball Team, Head Coach Kristin Chaney, President Dr. Billy Stewart and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.