Emily Simon earns place on NFCA NJCAA All-American Team

Simon, Ashley earn spots on NFCA NJCAA Division I South Region teams

Hanceville, AL — Wallace State Community College Softball player Emily Simon has been selected as a member of 2023 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI All-American second team. Simon, a freshman from Athens, was also named to the NFCA NJCAA Division I South Region First Team, for her outstanding efforts in the circle during the 2023 season.

Simon helped lead the Lions to a 15th championship in the Alabama Community College Conference and a trip to the NJCAA Division I Softball Championship, where the team finished among the top 12.

Simon topped the board in the ACCC in pitching, with an earned run average of .99. She pitched 127.1 innings in 24 appearances for the Lions and recorded 17 wins, 1 loss and 3 saves. She struck out 156 batters and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per game. Alivia Wilken followed at second with an ERA of 1.43.

“I just smiled ear-to-ear when I heard Emily was named to the team,” said head softball coach Carson Owens. “To my knowledge, this is our first time having back-to-back pitchers being named All-Americans. Leigha Kirby was first team last year, and Emily Simon this year – and she is only a freshman.”

Gracie Ashley waits for the pitch during the Wallace State Lions’ appearance at the 2023 ACCC Softball Championship, where the team went undefeated to punch their ticket to the NJCAA Division I Softball Championship, where the team finished among the top 12.

Second-baseman Gracie Ashley of Sumiton was also recognized, earning a place on the NFCA NJCAA Division I South Region Second Team.

Ashley, a sophomore, led the team in hits and runs. In 189 at bats during 59 games, Ashley had 73 hits and 52 runs. Those numbers put her in second place in the conference for hits and third for runs. She led in the conference and nationally in triples, with 10 for the season, and she stole 21 bases.  

The team finished the season 52-7 overall, with a perfect 23-0 record at home.