Seven TCC Softball players receive All-Panhandle Conference Honors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 1, 2023) – Seven TCC Softball players received All-Panhandle Conference honors on Monday afternoon. Raven Little (INF, Soph.) was the only Eagle to receive first-team honors. Jolee Camp (RHP, Fresh.), Kailynn James (RHP/1B, Soph.), Brittany Michael (RHP/1B, Soph.), Brooke Michael (C, Soph.), and Sydney Ray (LHP, Soph.) received second-team honors, and Sheshe Ortiz (INF, Soph.) received an honorable mention.
Little, who just completed her third and final season at TCC, was received first-team honors for the second consecutive season. This season she hit .315 with a .404 on-base percentage (leading the team in both of those categories), recording nine home runs, six doubles, and 26 RBI. She finishes her career with 29 home runs, the most in school history. She also finishes with a .331 career batting average and .396 on-base percentage.
Camp's freshman season in Tallahassee was a successful one. She appeared in 15 games as a pitcher, leading the Panhandle Conference in ERA (1.31). Her ERA also led all freshman in NJCAA Region 8 Division I. 10 of her 15 appearances came in relief and she recorded five wins and one save on the season. She finished with 53.1 innings pitched with 44 strikeouts and just 13 walks.
James receives second-team All-Panhandle Conference honors for the second straight season. James continued to provide substantial contributions at the plate and in the circle for the Eagles. She finished the season batting .311 with 12 home runs, just one short of the single season school record. As a pitcher, James made 14 appearances and nine starts, and held a 2.81 ERA over 57.1 innings pitched. At last week's Athletics Banquet, James capped off another impressive season at TCC by being named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments as a student, athlete, and leader.
Brittany Michael finished her sophomore season with 89 innings pitched and a 2.52 ERA, recording 75 strikeouts. This is also the second consecutive season in which she earns second-team All-Panhandle Conference honors. She finishes her TCC career with 199.1 innings and a 2.35 ERA. On March 1, Michael was named Region 8 Pitcher of the Week for the second time in her career. She received the award after throwing a six-inning no-hitter at the Courtney Miller Invitational against No. 8 Seminole State (FL). She led the team this season innings pitched, wins, complete games, and strikeouts. Brittany has signed to continue her academic and athletic career at NCAA Division II Georgia Southwestern State.
Brooke Michael, TCC's starting catcher, earns conference recognition after a formidable offensive improvement from her freshman season. After slashing .238/.302/.361 in 2021-22, Brooke improved those numbers to .258/.352/.387 this season. She hit three home runs and drove in 19 and struck out just seven times in 110 plate appearances. She spent many of her games at catcher as her sister Brittany's battery mate. Brooke has also signed at Georgia Southwestern State.
Ray made 22 appearances as a pitcher for TCC this year, including 15 as a starter. She maintained a 2.24 ERA over 75 innings pitched, striking out 60 batters. Her ERA was seventh-best in the Panhandle Conference, and second on the team behind only Camp. Ray finishes her TCC career with 158.1 innings pitched, a 3.01 ERA, and 118 strikeouts. She has signed to continue her career at NCAA Division II Valdosta State University.
Ortiz, another one of TCC's three-year players, received an honorable mention by the Panhandle Conference after posting the best offensive season of her collegiate career. She set new career-highs in batting average (.313), on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.555), home runs (7), RBI (30), and stolen bases (8). Ortiz returned to play her third and final season with TCC after representing Puerto Rico at The World Games last summer in Birmingham, AL.