OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College softball team has been picked to finish first in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division II preseason poll and repeat as conference champions. The poll was voted on by the 12 conference coaches.
Cowley was picked second, followed by Fort Scott, Neosho County, Labette, Kansas City Kansas, Independence, Allen, Cloud County, Hesston, Highland and Coffeyville.
The 2023 Johnson County softball team opened the campaign unranked but at the end of the season they found themselves ranked among the top-20 programs in the country at No. 13. JCCC finished the season with a record of 33-8 and were co-conference champions with Cowley.
Head coach Aubree Brattin-Volkens returns eight players from that squad, including six all-conference selections. Outfielder Taryn Burkhardt and infielder Kate Ediger were placed on the first-team. Right-hand pitcher Maggie McNally was a second-team pick and infielders Hannah Archdekin and Emma Smith and outfielder Eve Morris earned honorable mention. All eight played key roles to help lead the Lady Cavaliers to a conference championship.
Burkhardt hit .504 (59-fo-117) with seven doubles, three triples, a home run, 51 runs scored and 18 driven in. She also stole a team high 37 bases. Her 51 runs ranked fourth in the conference and was third in stolen bases, and her 37 steals rank as the seventh-best season at JCCC. She stole multiple bases in a game 12 times. Burkhardt alco collected 14 multiple-hit and two multiple-RBI games.
"Taryn really set the tone for our entire lineup last season," Brattin-Volkens said. "I see her have a great sophomore season in both the batter's box and in the outfield, and with her new leadership role as a sophomore it will help her abilities rub off onto others."
Ediger batted .448 (56-for-125) with 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 27 runs scored and 49 RBI. She led the team in both hits and RBI, and was second in doubles and home runs. Her 49 RBI ranked sixth in the conference. Ediger produced 15 multiple-hit and a team-best 13 multiple-RBI games.
"Kate is one of those athletes that any coach would love to rally a team behind," said Brattin-Volkens. "She is hard working, kind, passionate and wants herself and others to succeed. Her success is fun to watch as she earns it daily. We look forward to Kate continuing her success this season."
McNally made 26 appearances in the circle, with 23 starts and 10 complete games. She finished 13-4 with 132 strikeouts in 113.2 innings of work, two shutouts with an earned run average of 2.71. She held opposing batters to an average of .198. McNally ranked sixth in the conference in ERA and fifth in strikeouts. Her 132 strikeouts rank 19th on JCCC's season chart. She had four games with 10 strikeouts, the first coming in her collegiate debut, a 9-4 win over Iowa Central (3-5-23). Twice during the season she was selected as the KJJCCC D-II Pitcher of the Week and earned NJCAA All-Academic first-team with a grade point average of 4.0.
"Maggie is coming off a great freshman season and provides us a ton of experience in the circle this year." Brattin-Volkens said. "We are looking for Maggie to play an ever bigger role for us as a sophomore. She has worked hard on the mental side of her game as well as her physical stamina, and we look forward to her putting that hard work into action."
Archdekin batted .379 (39-for-103) with 10 doubles, a triple, two home runs, 19 runs scored and 29 RBI. She produced 11 multiple-hit and eight multiple-RBI games. Her first collegiate hit was a two-run home run in a 3-1 win over Indian Hills (3-15-23). Twice during the season she was selected as the KJJCCC D-II Player of the Week and earned NJCAA All-Academic second-team with a grade point average between 3.80-3.99.
"Hannah was our main third baseman last year, but we will be moving her behind the plate this season," said Brattin-Volkens. "She has strong leadership skills wherever she is, and is incredibly humble and hard working. Hannah has a strong bat and arm, not mention a ton of softball knowledge that will help in the success of the team this spring."
Smith batted .309 (30-for-97) with eight doubles, a triple, three home runs, 23 runs scored and 15 driven in. Her three home runs were third most on the team. She produced nine multiple-hit and three multiple-RBI games.
"Emma is a talented middle infielder who will see most of her playing time at second base this spring," said Brattin-Volkens. "She is a gap-to-gap type hitter with outstanding speed, and has demonstrated the ability to be a run producer."
Morris batted .437 (45-for-103) with a team-best 17 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 23 runs scored and 28 driven in. Her 17 doubles are ranked second in the conference and tie for 19th on JCCC's season chart. She produced 10 multiple-hit and three multiple-RBI games. She also stole 17 bases, third-most on the team.
"Eve Smart player and anticipates well," Brattin-Volkens said. "She has outstanding speed which allows her to cover a lot of ground in centerfield and has a strong arm to go with it. Eve also possesses a solid bat and is penciled in to hit near the top of the batting order."
Coach Brattin-Volkens has also added nine new players to her roster including Kaia Cordill, a sophomore transfer from Kansas City Kansas. Last year she helped the Blue Devils to a 21-24 overall record while batting .344 (42-for-122) with 10 doubles, four triples, a home run, 24 runs scored and 22 driven in. She posted an on-base percentage of .406 and a slugging percentage of .516 and registered 12 multiple-hit and five multiple-RBI games.
"Kaia is a very talented newcomer that has a great bat, covers a lot of ground in the outfield, and wants to be successful," said Brattin-Volkens. "She is a smart player who we believe has the focus and intention to be a difference maker on both sides of the ball."
Johnson County will open its 2024 season in Dennison, Texas. They take on Eastern Oklahoma State and Vernon on Friday, February 9 followed by Western Oklahoma State and Paris on Saturday, February 10. They return home to host Iowa Western in a double header on Saturday, February 17.