JCJC Sports Information Director

CLINTON – Another outstanding softball season came to a conclusion for the Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats here Friday afternoon in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at Traceway Park.

Illinois Central College got a home run from Cordan Jones in the top of the second inning and made it stand up as they defeated the Lady Bobcats 1-0 in an elimination game.

Earlier, top-seeded LSU-Eunice put JCJC into the loser’s bracket with an 8-2 decision over the Lady Bobcats.

JCJC ends the year at 44-10, giving them an 88-21 record over the past two years. For two straight years, the Lady Bobcats won the MACJC state championship, finished second in Region 23 and qualified for the Division II World Series. It is also the second consecutive season for JCJC to go 2-2 in the national tournament, giving them a top six finish in the event.

In other action Friday, LSU-Eunice whipped Phoenix College (Ariz.), 6-1 to remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Cowley County College (Kan.) beat Sauk Valley Community College (Ill.), 12-4 in six innings and Kirkwood Community College (Iowa), 3-2 in nine innings.

Cowley then beat Illinois Central 9-0 on Friday night. Illinois Central had beaten Highland Community College (Kan.), 4-3 in 11 innings before beating JCJC. Phoenix College had beaten Kirkwood 2-1 to set up the winner’s bracket game with LSU-Eunice.

On Saturday, Cowley County meets Phoenix College at 11:30 a.m. The winner of that game must beat LSU-Eunice twice in order to claim the championship.

The games will air on www.ihigh.com/njcaatv.

Illinois Central 1, Jones County 0

JCJC started the game in good fashion when C.C. Lawn and Relanda McFarland reached on bunt singles in the bottom of the first. But a strikeout, flyout and groundout ended the threat.

Cordan Jones then homered over the left-centerfield fence in the top of the second to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

JCJC received a leadoff single from Bethany Volking in the fourth, but a double play ended the inning.

With two outs in the fifth, Reagan Gavin hit a deep drive off the leftfield fence for a double, but a strikeout ended the inning.

In the sixth, CC Lawn led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by McFarland. But a groundout by Volking and a deep flyout to right by Karley Crosby ended the inning. The Lady Bobcats were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Samantha Buller, 26-5, started and took the loss. She went 2 1/3 innings, gave up one run and two hits. Michele Hester went the final 4 2/3 innings, allowed no runs, three hits, walked one and struck out one.

Lawn had two singles for JCJC, while Gavin doubled. McFarland and Volking added singles.

McKenzie Vissering went the distance and posted the shutout victory. She scattered five hits, walked none and struck out two.

Paige Garber doubled and singled for the Cougars, while Cordan Jones homered. Dani Smith added a double and Jaime Scott singled.

Illinois Central improved to 31-14 with the win.

LSU-Eunice 8, Jones County 2

The Lady Bobcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Lawn reached on a walk, took second on a passed ball and went to third on illegal pitch. Lawn would score on McFarland’s infield single. An infield single by Volking gave JCJC runners at first and second with no outs, but a double play and a groundout ended the threat.

LSU-Eunice answered quickly in the bottom of the first.

Brooke Thomas led off with a walk and one out later, Kelsey Hollier blasted a home run just inside the leftfield foul pole to make it 2-1.

Taylor Simon homered for LSU-Eunice in the third to make it 3-1.

The Lady Bengals then added three more runs in the fourth.

Pamela Wainwright led off with a single and Cody Covington followed with another home run. Randi Vosburg then drew a walk and Thomas reached on a bunt single. A wild pitch advanced the runners and Simon’s sacrifice fly scored Vosburg.

The Lady Bobcats got a run back in the fifth.

Gavin led off with a single. Angela Land’s fly ball to center fell to the turf, but Gavin was forced at second on the play because she had to wait and see if the ball would be caught. Lawn reached on an error and Land would score on an illegal pitch.

LSU-Eunice added two runs in the sixth when Thomas reached on an error, went to second on a groundout and scored on Hollier’s single. Emily Nolan followed with a single and Brooklynn Clark’s fielder’s choice scored Hollier.

Buller started, went three-plus innings and took the loss. She allowed six runs, six hits, walked five and struck out two. Hester went the final three innings, gave up two runs (one earned), three hits, walked two and struck out none.

Dunn singled twice for JCJC, while McFarland, Volking, Brooke David and Gavin added singles.

Elizabeth Delafield was the starter and winner for LSU-Eunice. She went 4 1/3 innings, allowed two runs (one earned), five hits, walked two and struck out none. Julienne Broussard went the final 2 2/3 innings, gave up no runs, one hit, walked one and struck out five.

Covington homered and singled twice for the Bengals, while Hollier homered and singled and Simon homered. Thomas, Nolan and Wainwright added singles for the Bengals.

LSU-Eunice improved to 60-5 with the victory.

Friday’s games

Clinton

At Traceway Park

LSU-Eunice 8, Jones County 2

Jones County (44-9)             100 010 0 – 2 6 2

LSU –Eunice (60-5)                        201 302 x – 8 9 1

Samantha Buller, Michele Hester (4) and Brooke David. Elizabeth Delafield, Julienne Broussard (5) and Randi Vosburg. WP-Delafield. LP-Buller (26-4). JCJC hitters: Rebecca Dunn 2 1B; Relanda McFarland 1B; Bethany Volking 1B; Brooke David 1B; Reagan Gavin 1B. LSU-Eunice hitters: Codi Covington HR, 2 1B; Kelsey Hollier HR, 1B; Taylor Simon HR; Brooke Thomas 1B; Emily Nolan 1B; Pamela Wainwright 1B. LOB – JCJC 7; LSU-Eunice 6. T – 1:39.

Illinois Central College 1, Jones County 0

Illinois Central (31-14)             010 000 0 – 1 5 0

Jones County (44-10)            000 000 0 – 0 5 1

McKenzie Vissering and Brittany Miller. Samantha Buller, Michele Hester (3) and Brooke David. WP-Vissering. LP-Buller (26-5). ICC hitters: Cordan Jones HR; Paige Garber 2B, 1B; Dani Smith 2B; Jaime Scott 1B. JCJC hitters: C.C. Lawn 2 1B; Reagan Gavin 2B; Relanda McFarland 1B; Bethany Volking 1B. LOB – ICC 7; JCJC 4. T – 1:23.

NJCAA Division II National Tournament

Clinton

At Traceway Park

Wednesday’s results

Game 1, No. 1 LSU-Eunice 12, Murray State College (Okla.) 4 (5 innings)

Game 2, No. 8 Mercyhurst North East (Penn.) 2, Kankakee Community College (Ill.) 0

Game 3, No. 5 Jones County 11, Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.) 1, (5 innings)

Game 4, No. 4 Cowley County Community College, Kan. 11, Cuyahoga Community College (Ohio) 3, (5 innings)

Game 5, No. 3 Kirkwood Community College, (Iowa), 10, CCBC-Catonsville (Md.), 1 (6 innings)

Game 6, No. 6 Illinois Central College 8, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, (Mich.) 3

Game 7, No. 7 Highland Community College (Kan.) 6, Sauk Valley Community College (Ill.) 1

Game 8, No. 2 Phoenix College (Ariz.) 9, Burlington County College (N.J.) 1 (5 innings)

Thursday’s results

Game 9, Kankakee 9, Murray State College 6

Game 10, Lincoln Land 11, Cuyahoga 2 (5 innings)

Game 11, Kalamazoo Valley 10, CCBC-Catonsville 0 (5 innings)

Game 12, Sauk Valley CC 12, Burlington County College 4 (5 innings)

Game 13, LSU-Eunice 19, Mercyhurst North East 1 (5 innings)

Game 14, Jones County 3, Cowley County 2

Game 15, Kirkwood 3, Illinois Central College 2

Game 16, Phoenix College 3, Highland 2

Game 17, Sauk Valley 7, Mercyhurst North East 3

Game 18, Cowley County 12, Kalamazoo Valley 1 (5 innings)

Game 19, Illinois Central 5, Lincoln Land 4

Game 20, Highland 14, Kankakee 7

Friday’s results

Game 21, LSU-Eunice 8, Jones County 2

Game 22, Phoenix College 2, Kirkwood 1

Game 23, Illinois Central 4, Highland 3 (11 innings)

Game 24, Cowley County 3, Sauk Valley 2 (9 innings)

Game 25, Illinois Central 1, Jones County 0

Game 26, Cowley County 3, Kirkwood 2

Game 27, LSU-Eunice 6, Phoenix College 1

Game 28, Cowley County 9, Illinois Central 0

Saturday’s games

Game 29, Phoenix College vs. Cowley County, 11:30 a.m., Field 2

Game 30, LSU-Eunice vs. Winner Game 29, 1:30 p.m., Field 2

Game 31, if necessary, Winner Game 30 vs. Loser Game 30, 3:30 p.m., Field 2

Michele Hester of the Lady Bobcats delivers a pitch during Friday’s game vs. Illinois Central College in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at Clinton’s Traceway Park.

Photo/Shawn Wansley, JCJC Sports Information

JCJC Sports Information Director

CLINTON – The Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats are one of only four unbeaten teams remaining in the 16-team NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

The Lady Bobcats, seeded No. 5, overcame a 2-0 deficit with a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat fourth-seeded Cowley County Community College (Kan.), 3-2 here Thursday afternoon at Traceway Park.

The victory moves JCJC into a winner’s bracket battle at noon on Friday with Region 23 foe LSU-Eunice. LSU-Eunice defeated Mercyhurst North East (Penn.), 19-1 in five innings on Thursday.

The Lady Bobcats are now 44-8, matching last year’s victory total when they ended the year at 44-11. Cowley County falls to 51-7.

JCJC defeated LSU-Eunice (59-5) 5-4 last week in the Region 23 Tournament, but the Bengals rebounded to beat JCJC 6-0 and 10-4 to claim the tournament title.

The other two unbeaten teams in the national tournament are Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) and defending champion Phoenix College (Ariz.). Kirkwood edged Illinois Central College, 3-2, and Phoenix defeated Highland Community College (Kan.), 8-6.

All of JCJC’s games in the tournament are webcast on www.jcjc.tv and ihigh.com/njcaatv.

Lady Bobcats 3, Lady Tigers 2

The Lady Bobcats put the pressure on Cowley County in the sixth and it paid off.

Relanda McFarland led off with a bunt single. Bethany Volking then grounded to Cowley third baseman Austen Hilt, who threw to second in an effort to force McFarland. But the throw was late and both runners were safe.

Karley Crosby then reached on a fielder’s choice and Volking was forced at second. Makenzie Hawkins then delivered an RBI single to score McFarland and make it 2-1.

Brooke David then hit a groundball to shortstop Haley Strawn who threw to first baseman Colby Dreshar. She was ruled safe initially, but after a brief discussion among all three umpires, David was called out.

That brought up Rebecca Dunn with pinch-runner Angela Land on third base and Hawkins at second. Dunn came through with a clutch, two-run, two-out single to right to score both runners and put the Lady Bobcats ahead.

In the top of the seventh, Michele Hester retired the Lady Tigers in order and the Lady Bobcats had secured the victory.

Cowley County had a taken a 1-0 lead in the third when Strawn led off with a home run over the left field fence. They made it 2-0 in the top of the sixth when Jordan Haya reached on a two-out single, stole second and scored on Caitlyn Cosme’s single.

Hester pitched the final three innings in relief and recorded the win. Hester, 16-5, allowed one run, two hits and struck out one. Starter Samantha Buller went the first four innings, gave up one run, three hits, walked two and struck out two.

JCJC received two singles each from Dunn and Reagan Gavin and one single each from McFarland, Hawkins and Kalyn McNabb. The bottom third of the order – Dunn, McNabb and Gavin – accounted for five of JCJC’s seven hits.

Jessica Seay went the distance and absorbed her first loss of the year. Seay, 26-1, gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out one.

Strawn homered for the Tigers, while Laura Seeman, Haya, Cosme and Dreshar added singles.

Thursday’s game

Clinton

At Traceway Park

Jones County 3, Cowley County CC (Kan.) 2

Cowley County, Kan. (51-7)            001 001 0 – 2 5 0

Jones County (44-8)                        000 003 x – 3 7 0

Jessica Seay and Taylor Watham. Samantha Buller, Michele Hester (5) and Brooke David. WP-Hester (16-5). LP-Seay (26-1). Cowley County hitters: Haley Strawn HR; Laura Seeman 1B; Jordan Haya 1B; Caitlyn Cosme 1B; Colby Dreshar 1B. JCJC hitters: Rebecca Dunn 2 1B; Reagan Gavin 2 1B; Relanda McFarland 1B; Makenzie Hawkins 1B; Kalyn McNabb 1B. LOB: Cowley County 4; JCJC 6. T – 1:36.

NJCAA Division II National Tournament

Clinton

At Traceway Park

Wednesday’s results

Game 1, No. 1 LSU-Eunice 12, Murray State College (Okla.) 4 (5 innings)

Game 2, No. 8 Mercyhurst North East (Penn.) 2, Kankakee Community College (Ill.) 0

Game 3, No. 5 Jones County 11, Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.) 1, (5 innings)

Game 4, No. 4 Cowley County Community College, Kan. 11, Cuyahoga Community College (Ohio) 3, (5 innings)

Game 5, No. 3 Kirkwood Community College, (Iowa), 10, CCBC-Catonsville (Md.), 10-1 (6 innings)

Game 6, No. 6 Illinois Central College 8, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, (Mich.) 3

Game 7, No. 7 Highland Community College (Kan.) 6, Sauk Valley Community College (Ill.) 1

Game 8, No. 2 Phoenix College (Ariz.) 9, Burlington County College (N.J.) 1 (5 innings)

Thursday’s games

Game 9, Kankakee 9, Murray State College 6

Game 10, Lincoln Land 11, Cuyahoga 2 (5 innings)

Game 11, Kalamazoo Valley 10, CCBC-Catonsville 0 (5 innings)

Game 12, Sauk Valley CC 12, Burlington County College (5 innings)

Game 13, LSU-Eunice 19, Mercyhurst North East 1 (5 innings)

Game 14, Jones County 3, Cowley County 2

Game 15, Kirkwood 3, Illinois Central College 2

Game 16, Phoenix College 3, Highland 2

Game 17, Sauk Valley 7, Mercyhurst North East 3

Game 18, Cowley County 12, Kalamazoo Valley 1 (5 innings)

Game 19, Illinois Central 5, Lincoln Land 4

Game 20, Highland 14, Kanakee 7

Friday’s games

Game 21, LSU-Eunice vs. Jones County, noon, Field 1

Game 22, Kirkwood vs. Phoenix College, noon, Field 2

Game 23, Highland  vs. Illinois Central, noon, Field 3

Game 24, Cowley County vs. Sauk Valley, noon, Field 4

Game 25, Loser Game 21 vs. Winner Game 23, 2 p.m., Field 1

Game 26, Loser Game 22 vs. Winner Game 24, 2 p.m. Field 3

Game 27, Winner Game 21 vs. Winner Game 22, 4 p.m., Field 2

Game 28, Winner Game 25 vs. Winner Game 26, 6 p.m., Field 2

Saturday’s games

Game 29, Loser Game 27 vs. Winner Game 28, 11:30 a.m., Field 2

Game 30, Winner Game 27 vs. Winner Game 29, 1:30 p.m., Field 2

Game 31, if necessary, Winner Game 30 vs. Loser Game 30, 3:30 p.m., Field 2

Lady Bobcat catcher Brooke David gets the sign from the dugout during JCJC’s 3-2 victory over Cowley County Community College (Kan.) Thursday in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at Clinton.

Photo/Shawn Wansley, JCJC Sports Information

Branning Dykes, a sophomore from Richton, qualified for the tournament as an individual after a second-place finish in the Region 23 Tournament last month at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia.

Dykes led the tournament after round one when he shot a two-under par 70. He shot a 79 on day two, giving him a two-day total of 149, 7-over par. That was good enough for a second-place finish behind Co-Lin’s Corbin May, who shot a 73-67 – 140.

The national tournament will be held at Goose Pond Colony Resort. Practice rounds will be held May 19-20.

“We are thrilled to host the NJCAA Championship at Goose Pond Colony and encourage everyone to come out to watch these talented collegiate golfers and teams compete for the top spots,” says General Manager Lyle Sosebee. “We always enjoy hosting events that contribute to the development of student-athletes’ skills and those that bring the community together to support their efforts.”

 The tournament is open to the public. Spectators can purchase an individual day pass for $10 or a four-round tournament pass for $25. Golf carts will also be available to spectators for a $20 rental fee.

The Colony Course is a George Cobb design that opened in 1971 and is enjoyed by pros and amateurs alike. With its natural layout and views of the Tennessee River from every hole, the course has received numerous accolades over the past few years including "Most Fun Course to Play in North Alabama" by the Dixie Section of the PGA and a feature in Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” with a 4-star rating.

For more information about Goose Pond Colony, visit www.goosepond.org.

For more information on the tournament, go to www.njcaa.org.

These community/junior college golfers received All-Region 23 honors and qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament following competition in the Region 23 Tournament April 22-23 at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia. Pictured, from left, are Jones County Junior College’s Branning Dykes, East Mississippi’s Miles Respess, Co-Lin’s Corbin May, Mississippi Gulf Coast’s Jake Pritchard and East Central’s Shelby Patterson. They will compete in the national tournament at Goose Pond Colony Resort in Scottsboro, Ala., May 21-24.

Photo courtesy East Central CC Public Relations

JCJC Sports Information Director

CLINTON – Jones County Junior College used a pair of five-run innings and whipped the Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.) Lady Loggers, 11-1 in five innings here Wednesday afternoon at Traceway Park in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

That moves the fifth-seeded Lady Bobcats into a winner’s bracket game at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday vs. fourth-seeded Cowley County Community College (Kan.). Cowley County beat Cuyahoga County Community College (Ohio), 11-3 in five innings. The game will be webcast on www.jcjc.tv and http://www.ihigh.com/njcaatv.

The winner of the game will not play again until noon Friday, while the loser must turn around and play again at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Lady Bobcats 11, Lady Loggers 1

(5 innings)

JCJC received three hits from Rebecca Dunn as they improved to 43-8.

The Lady Bobcats got rolling in the second inning when Karley Crosby walked and Makenzie Hawkins singled. After Brooke David reached on a fielder’s choice, Dunn reached on an infield single to load the bases.

Kalyn McNabb walked to force in Hawkins and with two outs, CC Lawn walked to force in David. Relanda McFarland then reached on an infield single, which was able to score both Dunn and McNabb, who was running all the way. Bethany Volking then singled home Lawn to make it 5-0.

The Lady Loggers of Springfield, Ill., got a run in the third when Chantel Jennings led off with a single, Lauren Windisch reached on a bunt single and Laura Bonds singled to load the bases. Torey Sorenson’s sacrifice fly to center scored Jennings.

JCJC got the run back in the bottom of the inning.

Dunn singled with two outs and McNabb drove her in with a double off the rightfield fence.

The Lady Bobcats closed the scoring with a five-run, fourth inning.

Lawn singled and Volking singled with one out. A walk to Crosby loaded the bases and Hawkins reached on a fielder’s choice, which forced Lawn at home.

But David got a two-run single and Dunn followed with a run-scoring single to make it 9-1. McNabb’s grounder was booted, which allowed pinch-runner Keni May and Dunn to score.

Samantha Buller, 26-3, went the distance and got the win. She scattered seven hits, struck out one and walked one.

Dunn had three singles for JCJC, while Lawn, Volking and David had two singles each. McNabb had a double, with McFarland getting a single.

Bonds doubled and singled for Lincoln Land, 28-26. Windisch singled twice, while Sorenson, Kayla Jacobs and Jennings added singles.

Claire Dubree went 3 2/3 innings and took the loss. She gave up 11 runs, 11 hits, walked four and struck out two. Whitney Baker got the final out for the Lady Loggers.

Wednesday’s game

Traceway Park

At Clinton

Jones County 11, Lincoln Land CC (Ill.) 1

(5 innings)

Lincoln Land (28-26)            001 00 – 0 7 1

Jones County (43-8)            051 5x – 11 11 0

Claire Dubree, Whitney Baker (4) and Stephanie Watkins. Samantha Buller and Brooke David. WP-Buller (26-3). LP-Dubree. Lincoln Land hitters: Laura Bonds 2B, 1B; Lauren Windisch 2 1B; Torey Sorenson 1B; Kayla Jacobs 1B; Chantel Jennings 1B. JCJC hitters: Rebecca Dunn 3 1B; CC Lawn 2 1B; Bethany Volking 2 1B; Brooke David 2 1B; Kalyn McNabb 2B; Relanda McFarland 1B. LOB – Lincoln Land 5; JCJC 4. T – 1:18.

NJCAA Division II National Tournament

Clinton

At Traceway Park

Wednesday’s results

Game 1, No. 1 LSU-Eunice 12, Murray State College (Okla.) 4 (5 innings)

Game 2, No. 8 Mercyhurst North East (Penn.) 2, Kankakee Community College (Ill.) 0

Game 3, No. 5 Jones County 11, Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.) 1, (5 innings)

Game 4, No. 4 Cowley County Community College, Kan. 11, Cuyahoga Community College (Ohio) 3, (5 innings)

Game 5, No. 3 Kirkwood Community College, Iowa, (55-3) vs. No. 14 Community College-Baltimore County, Md., (38-9), 3:30 p.m., Field 1

Game 6, No. 6 Illinois Central College (27-13) vs. No. 11 Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Mich., (34-14), 3:30 p.m., Field 2

Game 7, No. 7 Highland Community College, Kan., (37-8) vs. No. 10 Sauk Valley Community College, Ill., (34-13), 3:30 p.m., Field 3

Game 8, No. 2 Phoenix College, Ariz., (44-15) vs. No. 15 Burlington County College, N.J., (37-15)

Thursday’s games

Game 9, Murray State College (Okla.) vs. Kankakee, 1:30 p.m., Field 1

Game 10, Lincoln Land vs. Cuyahoga, 1:30 p.m., Field 2

Game 11, Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 1:30 p.m., Field 3

Game 12, Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 1:30 p.m., Field 4

Game 13, LSU-Eunice vs. Mercyhurst North East, 3:30 p.m., Field 1

Game 14, Jones County vs. Cowley County, 3:30 p.m., Field 2

Game 15, Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 3:30 p.m., Field 3

Game 16, Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m., Field 4

Game 17, Loser Game 13 vs. Winner Game 12, 5:30 p.m., Field 4

Game 18, Loser Game 14 vs. Winner Game 11, 5:30 p.m., Field 3

Game 19, Loser Game 15 vs. Winner Game 10, 5:30 p.m., Field 2

Game 20, Loser Game 16 vs. Winner Game 9, 5:30 p.m., Field 1

Friday’s games

Game 21, Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, noon, Field 1

Game 22, Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16, noon, Field 2

Game 23, Winner Game 20 vs. Winner Game 19, noon, Field 3

Game 24, Winner Game 18 vs. Winner Game 17, noon, Field 4

Game 25, Loser Game 21 vs. Winner Game 23, 2 p.m., Field 1

Game 26, Loser Game 22 vs. Winner Game 24, 2 p.m. Field 3

Game 27, Winner Game 21 vs. Winner Game 22, 4 p.m., Field 2

Game 28, Winner Game 25 vs. Winner Game 26, 6 p.m., Field 2

Saturday’s games

Game 29, Loser Game 27 vs. Winner Game 28, 11:30 a.m., Field 2

Game 30, Winner Game 27 vs. Winner Game 29, 1:30 p.m., Field 2

Game 31, if necessary, Winner Game 30 vs. Loser Game 30, 3:30 p.m., Field 2

JCJC’s CC Lawn heads home to score a run during Wednesday’s 11-1 Lady Bobcat victory over Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.)

Photo/Shawn Wansley, JCJC Sports Information

JCJC Sports Information Director

CLINTON – The 2013 NJCAA Division II National Tournament officially began here Tuesday on the campus of Mississippi College.

The Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats, along with the other 15 teams in the tournament, attended the Opening Ceremonies Banquet in the BC Rogers Building.

Each team in the tournament was introduced and went to the main stage to perform a cheer for the crowd.

Tournament Director Ray Holloway, the City of Clinton Parks and Recreation Department Director, introduced the tournament committee and Clinton mayor Rosemary Aultman welcomed the teams to Clinton.

NJCAA representative Berdy Kuiken and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Senior Director of Events Hildred Deese addressed the audience.

Former Hinds Community College and Jackson State University football player Antonio Wright, who is paralyzed from the waist down following a car accident in 1997, gave an inspirational talk to the players. Wright is the founder and CEO of Metro Area Community Empowerment Incorporated.

A meal was served for all players, coaches, school officials and tournament staff.

Clinton Alderman-at-Large Jehu Brabham served as master of ceremonies.

The Lady Bobcats, seeded No. 5, begin play in the tournament at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday vs. Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.), the 12^th seed. The game will be audiocast on www.jcjc.tv and http://www.ihigh.com/njcaatv.

At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, there will be a Home Run Derby with a representative from each team participating. At 7 p.m., a barbecue social will be served for everyone and a fireworks display takes place at 8:15 p.m.

The double-elimination tournament will end on Saturday.

The Lady Bobcats pose prior to the Opening Ceremonies Banquet Tuesday night at Mississippi College.

Photo/Shawn Wansley, JCJC Sports Information