Patterson named All-American by NJCAA

Itawamba Community College head softball coach Andy Kirk announced Jessi Patterson was named third team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) on Friday.

"Jessi made a tremendous impact on our season this year," said Kirk. "This award shows all the hard work she put in the during the preseason dedicated towards having the type of season she had this year. We so excited for her."

The Nettleton native batted .317 with 38 hits, four doubles, 14 home runs, 18 walks with 10 stolen bases, 43 RBIs, .403 on-base percentage in 120 at bats and .932 fielding percentage with 62 put outs, seven assists and five errors to become the first Lady Indian to earn All-American honors as a freshman.

Patterson is the third-straight Lady Indian to earn NJCAA All-American honors following in the footsteps of former high school teammate Kimmy Nicholson (2011, third team) and South Pontotoc graduate CeCee Austin (2010, third team).

"To have a player named All-American three years in a row is big for our program," Kirk said. "It shows the steps that Coach (Chad) Case was taking and what we are trying to build the program toward in the future."

The freshman outfielder was named Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College (MACJC) North Division Offensive Player of the Year and was NJCAA Region 23 selection. Her 14 home runs was one shy of the single-season record (15) set by Austin in 2010.

The Lady Indians (34-13) won a season-high 34 games and 22 division games on their way to winning the MACJC North Division and finishing fourth in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.