Will Kollmeyer/ICC Director of Marketing & Sports Information
Jayla Hubbard of Bruce (photo courtesy ICC Athletic Department)
Itawamba Community College’s softball program was well represented this past weekend in the first ever Domino’s Mississippi JUCO All-Star Showcase, hosted by Belhaven College in Jackson. Lady Indians catcher Cyndal Cleveland of Mantachie was the hitting star as she went two for two in game one of the north-south showdowns.
Bruce’s Jayla Hubbard of ICC had the defensive play of the first game, which was won by the south all-stars, 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh. According to her collegiate head coach, Chad Case, “Jayla made an unbelievable play in left field, diving toward the line to take away an extra base hit away from the south.”
Fellow Lady Indian CeCee Austin of Randolph hit the ball hard her two times at the plate, but didn’t get a hit, although Case added, ”CeCee played excellent defense at third.”
In game two, the south’s starting pitcher only allowed three balls to be put in play in a dominating performance, although ICC’s Heather Whitworth of Randolph was one of the three north all-stars to accomplish that feat. Case also added that Whitworth, like her Itawamba teammate Austin did in game one, played “some great defense at third.”
Nearly all of Mississippi’s four-year schools had coaches at the event scouting for their programs.
“I thought this was an excellent opportunity for our sophomores to gain exposure and be seen by several colleges and universities,” said Case, who has led his ICC program to post-season berths in both years in charge of the program, including winning a school record 30 games this past spring. “I was proud of all four of our ladies as they all contributed and I think they all enjoyed this experience.”
