Wallace State Softball Wins 4th Straight District Title

Hanceville, AL — Wallace Sate Community College’s softball team earned their fourth consecutive conference title on Saturday at the 2024 NJCAA Division l ACCC South District Softball Tournament held at Veterans Park in Alabaster, AL and their 16th title overall.

The team swept the tournament, winning three straight games to claim the title. Pitcher Katie Simon of Athens was named the tournament MVP.

The Lions went into the tournament as the No. 1 seed and soundly defeated Northwest-Shoals Community College 11-2 in the first round of play. Katie Simon pitched all six innings of the match-up, striking out 11 of the 23 batters she faced. Laura Leigh Wheeler of Sulligent knocked in eight runners with her two hits for the game, including a grand-slam. Jessie Taylor of Dalton, GA, and Tessa Word of Dawson, each had RBIs in the game.

The second-round game against Snead State was a little more challenging, but the Lions came out on top 5-3, with Lily Boswell getting the win and Emily Simon the save. Jadyn Foster of Sand Rock and Word each had a homerun in the game, with each bringing in one additional run during the game. Caroline Cartron of Hazel Green and Bayleigh Rouse of Harrison, GA, each had single RBIs as well.

In the final round, Wallace State shut out Southern Union 3-0, with Katie Simon getting the win. Taylor’s homerun combined with a fielder’s choice and an RBI from Rouse was all the team needed to clinch the win.

Along with MVP Katie Simon, Cartron, Word and Wheeler all were named to the All-Tournament Team. Rouse, Wheeler and Katie Simon were also named to the 1st Team All Conference.

The Lions will make their 16th appearance at the 2024 National Junior College Conference Division I Softball World Series May 20-25 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL. Live games will be broadcast on the NJCAA Network (www.njcaa.org). This will be the last year for the world series to be held in Alabama before it returns to Yuma, AZ in 2025.

The Lions are 35-12 overall for the season and 19-5 in the conference.

Lions Baseball ends season among Elite Eight

Wallace State’s baseball team ended their season after making it to the Elite Eight in the 2024 NJCAA Division I South District Championship at Choccolocco Park.

Seeded at No. 7 heading into the tournament, the Lions lost 9-1 to No. 2 seeded Delgado Community College out of New Orleans, La. The Lions bounced back in the first round of the consolation bracket, defeating Snead State Community College 18-10. Their season ended in a hard-fought battle against Southern Union State Community College, who won 8-6.

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally-recognized by the Aspen Institute among the top institutions according to student outcomes, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.