High Academic Standards
Lady Lions place 11 members finish on the Dean’s List, and eight players were named to the President’s List. Sophomores named to the President’s List are Lacy Kerr of Athens and Jennifer Sexton from Harvest. Freshmen on the list include Sallie Van Kirk of Athens; Allison Reynolds of Birmingham; Ashley Smith of Helena; Sallie Burch of Moulton; Kaylea Brewer of Fayetteville, Tenn.; and Caitlin Williams from Priceville.
On the Dean’s List, sophomores are Sarah Wilson from Alabaster; Amanda Rogers of Athens; Hope Carpenter from Athens; Dandi Ammons of Chelsea; Rachel Baucom from Columbus, Miss.; Jena Franks from Muscle Shoals; and Kaitlyn King of Moulton. Freshmen are Haley Allcorn from Altoona; Amber Johnson from Oden; Caitlyn Bonham of Springville; and Immori Carter from Steele.
Lady Lions’ Softball Prepares for Season Opening Tournament
BY: LUKE BRYMER
CONTACT: Luke Brymer, Sports Information Assistant, Wallace State Community College, luke.brymer@wallacestate.edu, 256/352-8231
HANCEVILLE, Ala.- The Wallace State-Hanceville softball team is working hard in preparation for its season opener February 7 against Midland College at the Odessa Texas Tournament.
The Lady Lions’ softball team carries lofty expectations into the coming season due to its success last season. The 2006-2007 team finished seventh in the nation last year and ended with a 64-11 record. “We will be playing with a target on our backs this season,” head coach Jayne Clem said. “Our opponents will really be looking to beat us, and we know we will have to work even harder to reach the level of last year’s team.”
Wallace completed a successful fall season with a record of 26-9. The majority of their games were against Universities, and the Lady Lions defeated schools such as Samford, Mercer, the University of Alabama at Huntsville, the University of North Alabama, Austin Peay and Cumberland. “I was pleased with the team in the fall. Our freshmen began to get some experience and some of them realized what is necessary to play at this level,” Clem said. “Several freshmen stepped up and really contributed. As a team, all the players, especially the sophomores, have really helped challenge each other.”
Clem emphasizes team unity and said the chemistry among her players is strong. “We really work hard on our chemistry and playing as a team. It’s hard to get that many players on the same page, and that’s why we focus so much on coming together as a team.” In addition to working together as a team, the players are learning to work with each other at each position. Depth is often a problem facing teams, but Clem says it is not an issue with this year’s squad. “We are three and four deep at every position. It’s reassuring for us to know that if someone is injured or sick that there is someone there to step up and fill the position. There is a lot of friendly competition at each position because the girls know that they have to step up and earn a spot or even playing time.”
With the return to practice after the holiday break, Clem says that the team is a bit behind in terms of preparation. “Due to weather, we haven’t been able to get on the field very much. We are behind where I would like for us to be, but we will work hard to improve and get on schedule. Our pitchers are doing very well though and are close to the level they need to be right now. Because of their experience, they know what it takes mentally and physically to perform.” The team will have a long ride to its first tournament, and Clem said it will be an important one. “Our first tournament will be a tough one,” Clem added. “We will be playing some very good teams that will have already been playing for about two weeks. It will give us a measurement of where we are and where we need to be.”
Prior to beginning the season, Clem and the team members set goals they want to accomplish over the course of the season. “We establish goals at the beginning of the season and the girls know how important it is to reach all of them. As a team we want to continue to work hard in the classroom and finish the season ranked in the top three nationally for team GPA average,” Clem said. The Lady Lions focus on not only athletics, but academics as well. Each year the team looks to improve on the previous year’s GPA and consistently finishes ranked in the top five nationally in the team GPA category. The players rose to new heights this past fall and finished with a 3.68 team GPA, up from the previous year’s 3.517. The team had 11 members finish on the Dean’s List, and eight players were named to the President’s List. “We stress success to our players not only on the field, but in the classroom as well,” Clem said. The GPA from last fall is the highest the softball team has ever achieved, but Clem wants her players to keep the standard high. “We were very happy with the fall GPA, but we want to keep working hard. Our goal is to finish the season with the No. 1 national ranking.”
Besides maintaining quality grades, Clem said the team also has goals for the season such as winning all its divisional games, heading into the state tournament ranked No. 1, winning the state tournament and finally, winning the national tournament. “There is a lot of pressure on the team to win the state tournament this year. Since we finished well last year, we know we have to win the state tournament in order to make it to nationals again,” Clem said. “Our sophomores have are really pushing themselves in practice and the weight room to be as prepared as possible. They are really working hard to bring home a national championship. They had a taste of success last season and know what it takes to reach the top.” The softball team will be on the road for much of February before returning for its home opener against Alabama Southern on Thursday, February 28 at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. For more information about Wallace State softball, visit www.wallacestate.edu or www.acccsports.org.
Sophomores Get Scholarships to 4-year Schools
The Wallace State sophomore class had a great fall season and now many of them have accepted scholarships to continue to play softball at the next level.
Rachel Baucom (SS/C) and Holli Hill (P) have both inked deals with Delta State in Cleveland MS. 
Rachel hit .465 last spring and looks to be a big hitter in the Statesman line-up. Holli was 14-6 last season and will continue to dominate her opponents at Delta State. 
The Statesman finished second in the GSC West division and played in the east regional.
Both are expected to make an impact and fill leadership roles on the team.
Jennifer Sexton (P) and Kaitlyn King (UT) will stay in state at conference rival University of North Alabama (UNA).
Jennifer was 15-1 her freshman year and looks continue her winning ways at UNA as well as for the Lady Lions in her final year. 
Kaitlyn will add speed and versatility to the UNA line-up as she can play middle infield as well as outfield.
Dandi Ammons (C) and Amanda Rogers (1B) will continue their softball career at Shorter College in Rome Georgia where they will compete for the NAIA title. Both will join Lindsey McDaniel next season who graduated last season from WSCC.
Dandi hit .401 last spring and was selected to the National All tournament team. She will catch and be an impact player for Shorter next season. 
Amanda hit .292 and brings one of the best defensive gloves around to the Lady Hawks lineup. She is sure to contribute immediately and provide leadership.
The other sophomores are working through their offers and options and will make a decision this spring.
Wallace State Places Fourth in the Nation Academically
For the third straight season, the Wallace State Lady Lions Softball team has placed in the top ten teams in the nation academically as reconginized by the NJCAA. This season the team finished fourth with a 3.513 team GPA. The team was made up of primarily freshman (14) while having only 3 sophomores. The team also finished tied for 7th in the Nation at the national tournament.
Lindsey McDaniel was the sophomore leader as she finshed her career at Wallace State as an Academic All-American with 3.63 GPA. She will be a student-ahtlete at Shorter College in Georgia next season.