Kirkwood Softball

No. 8 Eagles reach regional finals

The Kirkwood Eagles are the undefeated conference champions this year and the No. 1 seed for the regional volleyball tournament, but now they'll be hitting the road in pursuit of a spot in the national meet.

In some sports in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference, the No. 1 seed gets to host all of its events in regional competition. Volleyball is a different animal and Kirkwood Coach Jill Williams is not sure why.

"I can't explain it to you, because I don't understand it myself," she remarked Wednesday night.

Kirkwood swept Southeastern, 25-14, 25-19, 25-8, at Johnson Hall in a match that pitted the No. 1 seed against the No. 8 seed from the ICCAC.

But instead of playing for the regional title at home, the eighth-ranked Eagles (31-8) will face 16th-ranked DMACC (23-12) in what figures to be a nearly empty gym at Southwestern Community College in Creston this Saturday at noon.

Those are the conference and regional rules, so the Eagles will be making a three-hour trip to Creston to play for the regional title while DMACC will have a much shorter trip from its home in Boone.

The regional champion will claim a berth in the NJCAA Division II national tournament in Charlestown, W.Va., on Nov. 17-19 and that's the only thing that matters now.

Read more...

Nearad picks Cyclones, Carter joins Indiana St.

New Iowa State softball coach Jamie Trachsel has landed one of the top prospects in the nation after just three weeks on the job.

Taylor Nearad, who was named the National Junior College Player of the Year this season at Kirkwood, committed to Trachsel and the Cyclones Wednesday morning after a quick recruiting process.

Gabi Carter, an All-American shortstop for Kirkwood this season as a freshman, has signed with Indiana State and plans to join the Sycamores for the coming school year.

Nearad plans to return to Kirkwood for her sophomore campaign in 2017 before enrolling at Iowa State for the 2017-18 school year.

"I'm very excited," Nearad said. "They contacted me probably two weeks ago. Jamie actually came and saw me at Kirkwood and we visited for about an hour.

"I went on a visit there and I just felt like I was supposed to be there."

Nearad, from Solon, hit .602 with 30 home runs and 129 RBIs this season. She was a consensus first team All-American and was named the National Player of the Year for all divisions of junior college softball.

Read more...

Nearad named JUCO national player of year

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Taylor Nearad of Kirkwood Community College has been named the inaugural Schutt Sports/NFCA Junior College National Player of the Year for all divisions, the Association announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The award was voted on by members of the NFCA’s Junior College All-American and Coaching Staff committees, which are comprised of NJCAA I, II & III, Cal JC and NWAC.

Near the top of every offensive category in NJCAA Division II this season, Nearad was named a first-team NFCA All-American and led the nation with 145 hits, 129 RBIs, 30 home runs and 114 runs scored.

She hit at a .602 clip, which was third-highest in the country, while her .622 on-base percentage ranked fourth. In addition to her long balls, she stroked 31 doubles and 11 triples, which contributed to the third-highest slugging percentage in NJCAA II (1.195). The speedy outfielder also displayed her talents on the base paths, swiping 34 bags.

Read more...

Nearad, Eagles garner more softball honors

Five members of the Kirkwood softball team have been named All-Americans by the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association and Taylor Nearad has been named the NJCAA Division II Player of the Year.

Nearad, a center fielder, hit .602 with 30 home runs and 129 RBIs this season as the Eagles finished fifth at the national tournament.

Nearad, catcher Maddie Hansen and shortstop Gabi Carter were named first team All-Americans. Pitcher Nicky Simpson and left fielder Morgan Frost were named second team All-Americans.