Outlook

Gaige Pinkerton has developed into a fundamentally sound collegiate catcher … Blocks the ball well, possesses a strong, accurate arm, communicates well has the trust of her pitching staff … Really understands the game … Her leadership skills and motivation to succeed will aid tremendously in her success and the team’s success this season … Will continue her playing career at Northwest Missouri State University next fall ... Signed a National Letter of Intent to play at at Northwest Missouri State University next year.

Sophomore Year 2023

Earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference D-II and Region 6/Plains District first-team ... Also selected to the NFCA/NJCAA D-II South Region second team … Earned NJCAA All-Academic third-team with a GPA of between 3.60.3.79 ... Played in 37 games, 35 as a starter … Led the conference and tied for seventh in the NJCAA with a batting average of .545 (55-for-101), 41 points higher than the next batter in the conference … That average also ranks as the fourth-best in a season at JCCC … Collected 11 doubles, two home runs, 32 runs scored and 40 RBI … Her 40 RBI were second on the team … Led the team with 18 multiple-hit games and was second with 11 multiple-RBI games … Opened the season with a seven-game hitting streak where she batted .692 (9-for-13) with two doubles, a home run, 10 runs and five RBI … Had an RBI single in the 4-3 season opening win over Iowa Central (3-5-23) … Belted a solo homer in a 4-3 win over Indian Hills (3-20-23) … In the second game collected two singles, a walk, scored twice and drove in a run in a 13-5 loss … Singled, doubled, drove in run and scored twice in a 12-0 win over Iowa Western (3-22-23) … Had an RBI double, walked and scored two runs in a 5-0 win over Southeast (3-25-23) … Had two singles and two RBI in the first game at St. Charles, an 8-3 victory (4-2-23) … That started a season-best 23-game hitting streak, which ranks as the seventh longest in team history … In the second game at St. Charles, an 11-0 win, she produced a single, double and four RBI … Went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in a 9-1 win over Fort Scott (4-11-23) … Singled, walked and drove in three runs in a 13-2 win at Independence (4-15-23) … Went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in a second game against the Pirates, a 4-1 win … Was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI a 12-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader sweep over Hesston (4-19-23) … Had a single, double and three RBI in an 8-0 win in the second game with the Larks … Went 6-for-6 with for runs and two RBI in a doubleheaders sweep at Highland (4-22-23) … Ripped two doubles to drive in two run in a 10-1 win over Kansas City Kansas in the opening game of twin bill (5-3-23) … Blasted a three-run home run in the second game leading JCCC to a 7-1 victory … Had a two-run single in an 11-2 win over Labette in the first round of the Region 6/Plains District A Tournament (5-11-23) … Over the streak batted .567 (38-for-67) with eight doubles, a home run, 21 runs and 31 RBI … Was perfect in the field finishing with 168 putouts and six assists.

Freshman Year 2022

Played in 31 games, 30 as a starter … Batted .250 (22-for-88) with three doubles, 22 runs scores and six driven in … Registered four multiple-hit games and one multiple-RBI game … Was 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts, tied for second on the team … Also tied for second with four sacrifices … Was solid in the field posting a fielding percentage of .987 … Recorded 141 putouts, 15 assists and only two errors … Had a single in her collegiate debut, a 4-3 win over Marshalltown (2-27-22) … Had two hits and scored two runs in an 11-3 win over North Central Missouri (3-1-22) … Registered her first RBI in a 6-1 win over Iowa Central (3-3-22) … Had an RBI single and scored a run in an 8-0 win at Allen (3-17-22) … Blasted a two-run double and scored in a 14-4 win a Cloud County (3-26-22) … Had a double, a walk and scored a. run in a 5-1 win over Neosho County (4-1-22) … Collected two hits, a walk and scored three times in a 5-1 win over Independence (4-6-22) … Had two hits and an RBI in a 10-2 win at Fort Scott (4-14-22) … Had a hit, a walk, two stolen bases and scored three runs in a 17-6 win at Coffeyville (4-23-22) ... Earned NJCAA All-Academic second-team with a grade point average between 3-80-3.99.

High School

Was a four-year starter for coach Corey Katzer at Spring Hill High School, Spring Hill, Kan. … Graduated 2021 …  Was a second-team Kansas Class 5A All-State catcher … Was a two-time All-Frontier League performer, earning second-team her freshman and senior seasons … Her junior year was cancelled to the COVID-19 pandemic … As a senior had a double and a triple in a 10-0 win over Leavenworth to help the Lady Broncos win the Class 5A Regional title and earn a berth to the State Tournament … Spring Hill ended the 2021 regular season 19-1 and were co-champions of the Frontier League … Went on to finish 21-2 overall …  Played club softball and helped her 2018 team win the Elite Club Challenge.

Personal
Born Gaige Leslie Pinkerton on October 29, 2002, in Overland Park, Kan. … Daughter of Robert Pinkerton and Kimber Bridges … Has three siblings, Riahn, Cheyenne and Ethan … Major is undecided … Also recruited by the University of Saint Mary and Allen Community College … Favorite foods are Mexican, hibachi and pasta … Favorite fast food restaurant is Chick-fil-A … Favorite restaurant is Jose Peppers … Favorite TV shows are The Ranch, Longmire and Stranger Thinks … Favorite movies are Back to the Future and Top Gun … Favorite sport movies are A League of Their Own and Hoosiers … Favorite actor is Clint Eastwood … Favorite book is Among the Hidden … Favorite music entertainer is Morgan Wallen … Favorite cartoon character is Bugs Bunny … Favorite athletes are Bo Jackson and Ken Griffey, Jr. … Favorite sports team is the Kansas City Chiefs … Her greatest sports moment was putting a dent in the scoreboard … Best player she has played against is Mac Morgan, a pitcher for the Texas Longhorns … A notable alumnus from her school is Dr. Vincent Key, the team physician for the Kansas City Royals.