2012 Junior College Softball Profile: Kansas City Kansas Community College

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Lady Blue Devils entered the 2012 softball season optimistic that they could improve on their 18-20 record in 2011.

The Lady Blue Devils - 8-16 overall—started off the season with four straight wins. Of their first four wins, KCKCC—tallied 46 runs and allowed 23 scores—took two games from St. Mary's Leavenworth and two games from Fort Scott Community College. Leading the offensive charge was freshman Cassie Morrison who swatted three home runs and drove in 10 runs in the two-game series against Fort Scott.

Following their four-game win streak, the Lady Blue Devils dropped seven games in a row and 15 of their next 18 contests. KCKCC's main problem during this losing period was their offense as they managed just 62 runs in those 18 games. The Lady Blue Devils scored three or less runs in 10 of those contests and were also shutout three times. Overall, KCKCC has been outscored 175-126.

The good news is that the Lady Blue Devils—have won three of their last four games—may have broken out of their offensive slump as they have recorded 40 runs in their last eight games. KCKCC has tallied 17 runs in their four games having split with Hutchinson Community College and sweeping Neosho County Community College. The Blue Devils —7-9 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Eastern Division—have 10 games to improve their eighth place divisional standing.

The players

This year, KCKCC has one of their deepest pitching staffs in head coach Kacy Tillery's 12 seasons with the program. Leading the staff is sophomore Katie Cothran—three wins —, sophomore transfer Jennie Schneider—two victories, 3.50 ERA—and freshman MoNica Lee—two wins, 1.75 ERA. Cothran—.333 average —, and Schneider—.373 average —are two of six players hitting at least .300 through the first 17 games.

The other Lady Blue Devils batting at least .300 includes sophomore Mercedes Overstreet—.368, 6 HRs—Cassie Morgan—.333, 5 HRs, 19RBIs —, freshman Alyssa Lee—.396, 3 HRs—and sophomore Alika Buttermore—.353, 3 HRs.

Other team news:

- KCKCCC is a member of NJCAA Division II.

- Cassie Morrison—mainly as a result of her big series against Fort Scott—was named the KJCCC Player of the Week in week three. During week three, Morrison went 7-for-12 at the plate with 4 long balls and 11 RBIs. The other two games were against Maple Woods Community College (MO).

- Jennie Schneider transferred from Ottawa (Kansas) University.

Daniel Benjamin has followed small college softball for 15 years.

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