Posted: Apr 08, 2024

Gadsden State softball coach busy with recruiting new team

Gadsden State Community College's head softball coach is busy recruiting members to his burgeoning program. So far, there are 21 signed players with an additional 10 players making verbal commitments.

"We have a great group of ladies coming to Gadsden State to play softball," said Coach Ryan Clark. "I am very proud that they will represent our first team after not fielding a team for seven years."

The softball program came to a halt in 2016. Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State, announced in April 2022 that Gadsden State is reinstating softball and baseball. Clark was hired in August.

"The opportunity to be the head softball coach is not just a personal achievement for me," he said. "I am eager to coach this team. We will work hard to build a program that the Gadsden State Cardinal family will be proud of."

On April 2, Gadsden State broke ground on a $10 million softball and baseball complex that will be located in the Gadsden Sports Park. It is expected to be complete in early-2025.

"Our state-of-the-art complex at Gadsden State is a powerful recruiting tool," Clark said. "Prospective students are seeing firsthand that investments are being made to ensure their athletic and academic success. It showcases Gadsden State's commitment to excellence and success."

While he continues to recruit softball players, he is proud of those who have already signed with the Gadsden State Cardinals.

"They're very talented players with a ton of ability," Clark said. "We play in a very tough conference, and I believe this team will give us an opportunity to come out swinging early on. This is a very competitive group. They're winners."

Recruits and their achievements include:

Abigail Payne of Hokes Bluff High School is a two-time team Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year. She has also been named the All-Area Most Valuable Player and is a two-time member of the All-State Team.

Emma Croy has been named to the All-County and All-Area teams twice. She was also named to the All-Messenger Team. She plays at Glencoe High School.

Etowah High School's Lauren Farmer has been named to The Gadsden Times' 99 Athletes to Watch List.

Jasie Brooks is a member of Southside High School's All-Area Tournament Championship Team and the two-time Etowah County Championship Team. She has been named an All-County and All-Area team member. She is also the winner of Southside High's 3-D Award for Drive, Determination and Dedication and the GPA Award.

Ava Ramsey is also a member of Southside High School's championship team. She has been voted to two All-Etowah County teams and has earned the Etowah County MVP.

Chloe Gattis graduated from Alexandria High School, where the team won the 2022 regional championship and runner-up in the Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A Softball Championship. She was a member of the All-County Team and was named Calhoun County's Offensive MVP twice. She also received the Team Leader Award. She is currently a general studies student at Gadsden State.

Maribeth Parette won a AHSAA 5A Softball Championship at Wetumpka High School in 2023. The team also won three straight area championships. Parette was named the Wetumpka Herald Player of the Week.

Ashley Burgess is a member of the Edgewood Academy team. Prior to transferring to Edgewood, she was on the Wetumpka High School team that won a state championship and two area championships twice.

Madison Allen is a student at Auburn High School, where she is a member of the flag football state championship team. She was also named to First Team All-State.

Rachel McCown attends Madison County High School, where she is a member of the Area Championship Team.

Aubrey Kerst racked up many athletic honors as a member of the Villa Rica High School softball team. She was named Regional Pitcher of the Year and Team Pitcher of the Year twice. She was named to the All-Region Team four times.

Karli Crocker attends Pickens Academy and also plays travel ball for Druid City Tribe, where she was awarded team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

Kennadi Johnson is coming to Gadsden State from Pell City High School, where she played for the team that won the area championship and was a state tournament qualifier twice.

Ally Croy, a player at Chattooga High School, is a two-time member of the All-Regional Team and was named to the Georgia All-State Team.

Kirby Wisner comes from Clark's former team at Sylvania High School. Wisner was named to the All-Area and All-County teams.

Cherokee County High School's Lanie Williams has been on the All-County and All-Area team rosters three times.

Caybree Dobbins of North Sand Mountain High School has earned positions on the All-County Team five times and the All-Area Team twice.

Tennley Johnson comes from Oneonta High School, where she was named to the All-Area Team.

Reagan Sanders of Oxford High School was named to the All-County and All-Area teams and received the team's Best Utility Player Award.

Ella Kelley of Hamilton High School and Kaitlynn Hatfield of Hewitt-Trussville High School have also committed to the Cardinals.

"We feel fortunate to have this group of outstanding athletes," Clark said. "I'm excited to coach this group and watch them work and grow as athletes. I am ready to see what they can achieve at Gadsden State."

Jasie Brooks recently signed to play for the Gadsden State softball team. She currently plays at Southside High School.