Wallace State Sophomore Katie Gentle was named to the NCJAA Division I All-American softball team on May 24. She was joined by teammate BreeAnna Blevins, a sophomore pitcher.

They became the first Wallace State players to earn first-team honors since 2010.

Gentle, a former all-star player for Hartselle’s Lady Tigers, finished the 2013 season with one of the best offensive seasons in Wallace State’s storied softball history. Softball history. Hitting third in the lineup, Gentle compiled a single-season record of 74 RBIs to complement her .456 batting average and 16 home runs. She also added 25 doubles ad at team-high 27 stolen bases and was named to the ACCC All-Region team for her regular season work and to the All-Tournament teams at the state and national levels.

Gentle earned national recognition all season. She was named OC Sports NJCCA Player of the Week during consecutive weeks in March, becoming the first player in WSCC’s history to achieve the feat in back-to-back weeks. Gentle was at her best again during the national tournament. Her two-run homer lifted the Lady Lions to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Santa Fe (Fla.) College in the tournament opener in St, George, Utah. And she added a homer and five RBIs in a second game 8-6 win over top-seeded Butler (Kan.) Community College.

Katie Gentle