A quick glance through the current NJCAA Division I softball statistics pages will reveal quite a bit about the 2019 Angelina College Lady Roadrunners.
This team is downright offensive.
The No. 16 Lady ‘Runners are among national leaders in several hitting categories. The team is ranked No. 8 in team batting average, smacking the ball at a .397 clip. Having six players (Nikki Whitehead, Tristin Anders, Kaylee Ancelot, Brette Kohring, Jessica Husband and Nikki Gonzales) hitting at .400 or better doesn’t hurt one bit. Whitehead leads the team with a .513 average, good enough for 11th in the nation. Kohring is 26th nationally at .490.
Those aren’t just singles the team is collecting, either. AC’s ladies are bashing the ball to the tune of a .612 slugging percentage – good enough for 11th nationally. The Lady ‘Runners are 26th in homers with 39 in32 games despite missing numerous games to weather-related issues. In comparison, Southern Idaho leads the country with 89 homers in 44 games played. Four Lady Roadrunners own slugging percentages of .600 or higher: Ancelot leads the team at .876, Whitehead bops at .773, Kohring is at .710, Sara Mayes is at .698 and Tristin Anders sits at .600.
All that offense has led to great run production. AC boasts 10 players with 15 runs batted in or more, with Ancelot leading the way with 48 in 32 games. Ancelot, an Orangefield product, is ranked 25th nationally with 11 homers in 32 games.
Backing such a potent offense is a stout pitching effort. McKenna Fryar is No. 18 in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings at 8.46.
All of which has led to the Lady Roadrunners’ 26-6 record – and a 10-game winning streak – along with mentions in the conversation when it comes to national rankings.
AC next will play at Paris College on Wednesday in a doubleheader scheduled for a 3 p.m. start. The Lady ‘Runners are at home on Friday against Trinity Valley Community College in a twin bill starting at 1 p.m.
The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
