Wallace State softball’s Rachel Ragland named NJCAA 1st-team All-American

HANCEVILLE, ALA.  –  Rachel Ragland is the latest Wallace State softball player to earn recognition as a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) first-team All-American. Ragland was selected as an NJCAA All-American on Wednesday, becoming the sixth Lady Lion to collect first-team honors since 2009.
Ragland, who was also named the 2015 Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Player of the Year, led Wallace State to a 62-14 record this season and to its ninth conference title.
Ragland finished the season with a 25-7 record, seven saves and conference-best 1.32 ERA. She recorded 210 strikeouts and tossed nine shutouts as Wallace State made its third NJCAA Division I national tournament appearance in four seasons and ninth overall. At the plate, Ragland added five homers and 29 RBIs.
“Rachel Ragland is deserving of all of these awards. I can’t say enough about her. She has worked so hard over the last two years and done everything we have asked of her,” said Wallace State softball coach Jayne Clem. “There isn’t a player in the state who has worked harder than Rachel Ragland.”
The right-hander from Pleasant Grove finished her Wallace State career with a 44-27 record, also leading the Lady Lions to consecutive ACCC North Division titles and to their best ever seed (No. 2) at the NJCAA Division I tournament. Ragland was named a second-team All-ACCC/Region 22 member as a freshman.
Ragland becomes the newest NJCAA first-team All-American selection for Wallace State softball since Katie Gentle and BreAnna Blevins each earned the recognition after the 2013 national title season.
Ragland’s selection also gives Wallace State athletics its second NJCAA 1^st-teamer this academic season, joining volleyball’s Syretha Pride.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.