Latest news with #NJCAAWorldSeries
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lady Indians head to Arizona for Nationals round two
MARIANNA, Fla. (WMBB) – The Chipola softball team is heading to Yuma, Arizona, for a second-round matchup against Chattanooga State Community College in the NJCAA Division I World Series. The 33-19 Lady Indians have punched their ticket back to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time since 2021 and have hit the second-round. The team is led by standout sophomore pitcher Anyela Gomez, who boasts 11 home runs and 53 RBIs this season. With prior experience at the NJCAA World Series, Head Coach Kelly Brookins emphasized the importance of staying focused and controlling the controllable. 'It's more of a mindset than physical ability,' Brookins said. 'It's about keeping yourself in the moment—not looking ahead or dwelling on the past play. You can't assume anything. Any team can beat you at any given moment.' Coach Brookins also highlighted the excitement surrounding the team's journey, especially for players experiencing cross-country travel and national competition for the first time. 'I'm just excited for the moment,' Brookins said. 'We've put in the work, and they are enough to experience this opportunity. It's about taking it all in and enjoying the moment.' The Lady Indians will depart for Phoenix Friday, with their matchup scheduled for Monday, May 19. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
On a North Carolina college tour, South Elgin's Adriana Jimenez finds next home. ‘Been a staple for three years.'
Go your own way. South Elgin senior Adriana Jimenez is doing just that in high school, despite having followed in the footsteps of older sister Sammy by competing in both softball and cheerleading. 'She's had a nice career and been a staple for three years now,' Storm coach Brad Reynard said of Adriana. 'I've been fortunate to have her play both third base and catcher for me. 'Sammy probably caught a bit more than Adriana, but both have the same skill sets — cannons for arms, hit for power.' Jimenez didn't flex that power Monday for host South Elgin in a 6-2 Upstate Eight Conference win over West Aurora, but she did execute a sacrifice bunt with two runners on to key a four-run first inning that was all the support senior pitcher Anna Kiel needed. Kiel and sophomore first baseman Jenna Sheehan produced RBI doubles and senior second baseman Amber Gnutek added a two-run single for the Storm (22-4, 14-0), who are staging a strong defense of last year's conference title. South Elgin owns a two-game lead over Riverside-Brookfield, Reynard's alma mater, with four left to play. 'We like where we're at,' Reynard said. Kiel (10-3), a Loyola recruit, is swinging a hot bat. She went 3-for-3 to lift her average to .571 and checked the Blackhawks (14-14, 11-5) on three hits with nine strikeouts. West Aurora (14-14, 11-5) was held scoreless until the seventh when Ohio State-bound senior shortstop Sara Tarr drew a two-out walk and came home on a triple by senior outfielder Keira Hayton, a Missouri-St. Louis commit. Hayton scored on a single by sophomore outfielder Gracie Del Toro. Jimenez, meanwhile, did much of the research and legwork before signing with Gaston, a Division I junior college in Dallas, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte. She's three years younger than Sammy, who's playing at NCAA Division II Tusculum in Greeneville, Tennessee. 'I was on a search of schools and was interested in Belmont Abbey,' Jimenz said of the NCAA Division II program, also in the Charlotte area. 'I went there for a camp and decided to tour a lot of the schools in the area. I found it, met the coach and loved it and thought it was for me.' Jimenez, who also plays shortstop as well as third base and catcher for her travel team, continued to send Gaston coach Michael Steuerwald video and eventually received an offer. Gaston's program is in its third season and recently qualified for its second NJCAA World Series by winning region and district titles. Jimenez, who is hitting .319 with seven doubles and two home runs, is second on team for South Elgin with 26 RBIs. She hit .383 last season and earned all-conference honors. She has been a member of Storm competitive cheerleading teams that won one state title and placed third twice. 'Hopefully, we can do the same,' Reynard said. Last season, the Storm lost 2-1 in nine innings to Lake Park in a regional final and to the same Lancers 6-3 in a sectional final the previous season. 'I have confidence we'll make it further in the playoffs than we have,' Adriana said. 'I feel like this team, we like to have fun. In the past, it's been a little bit more businesslike. 'This team, it's more like we trust each other and we want to have fun all the time. Maybe we put more pressure on ourselves. This dynamic is different than any other year.' Reynard is enjoying the ride. 'Having seven years of Jimenz helping our program out has been a blessing,' he said. 'I joke with her parents (Oscar and Renee) about it. Next year, what am I gonna do now at third base?'
