Softball moves into Top 15 in latest NJCAA poll
“We are blessed to be ranked where we are in the polls,” said ICC head coach Andy Kirk. “The rankings are a reflection of not only all the hard work this year’s group of girls have put into the season, but all the girls that have helped put the program on the map.”
Softball moves into Top 15 in latest NJCAA poll
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – The Itawamba Community College softball team has moved up to No. 15 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II rankings released on Wednesday.
The Lady Indians (19-10, 11-3 MACJC North) moved up five spots to earn the highest ranking in school history. In 2012, ICC finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final NJCAA poll of the season.
"We are blessed to be ranked where we are in the polls," said Coach Andy Kirk. "The rankings are a reflection of not only all the hard work this year's group of girls have put into the season, but all the girls that have helped put the program on the map."
LSU-Eunice (41-1) remains the top ranked team for the second-straight week while Phoenix College (AZ), Lincoln Land Community College (IL), Highland Community College (KA) and Parkland College (IL) round out the Top 5. Fellow MACJC members Jones County Junior College slid down to No. 6 and East Central Community College entered the rankings for the first time this season at the No. 17 spot. >>> Complete Rankings
"To have three teams ranked amongst the Top 20 teams in the nation speaks volumes about our league," said Kirk. "There are a lot of teams throughout the league that are worthy of being in the rankings and it's going to be a fight to not just win the North, but battle for a spot in the playoffs because there is a lot of softball left to play this season."
The Lady Indians currently hold a one-game lead over Northwest Mississippi Community College for the top spot in the North Division standings going into today's doubleheader with the Rangers.
"Northwest is one of those teams that could very easily be in the rankings," commented Kirk. "We had two great games when they came to our place and gave the No. 3 team in the nation a run for their money earlier this season. We will have to play two of our better games this season to hopefully be able to hold on to the top spot in the division after today."
ICC will host its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Series this Saturday against Mississippi Delta Community College starting at 1:00 p.m. at the ICC Softball Complex on the Fulton campus. The team will be selling t-shirts and taking donations throughout the doubleheader to help raise money for awareness programs throughout the North Mississippi area.
For more information on ICC softball and the nine other intercollegiate athletic programs, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC) and visit LetsGoICC.com.