Hanceville, AL — Wallace Sate Community College's softball team earned their fourth consecutive conference title on Saturday at the 2024 NJCAA Division l ACCC South District Softball Tournament held at Veterans Park in Alabaster, AL and their 16th title overall.

The team swept the tournament, winning three straight games to claim the title. Pitcher Katie Simon of Athens was named the tournament MVP.

The Lions went into the tournament as the No. 1 seed and soundly defeated Northwest-Shoals Community College 11-2 in the first round of play. Katie Simon pitched all six innings of the match-up, striking out 11 of the 23 batters she faced. Laura Leigh Wheeler of Sulligent knocked in eight runners with her two hits for the game, including a grand-slam. Jessie Taylor of Dalton, GA, and Tessa Word of Dawson, each had RBIs in the game.

The second-round game against Snead State was a little more challenging, but the Lions came out on top 5-3, with Lily Boswell getting the win and Emily Simon the save. Jadyn Foster of Sand Rock and Word each had a homerun in the game, with each bringing in one additional run during the game. Caroline Cartron of Hazel Green and Bayleigh Rouse of Harrison, GA, each had single RBIs as well.

In the final round, Wallace State shut out Southern Union 3-0, with Katie Simon getting the win. Taylor's homerun combined with a fielder's choice and an RBI from Rouse was all the team needed to clinch the win.

Along with MVP Katie Simon, Cartron, Word and Wheeler all were named to the All-Tournament Team. Rouse, Wheeler and Katie Simon were also named to the 1st Team All Conference.

The Lions will make their 16th appearance at the 2024 National Junior College Conference Division I Softball World Series May 20-25 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL. Live games will be broadcast on the NJCAA Network (www.njcaa.org). This will be the last year for the world series to be held in Alabama before it returns to Yuma, AZ in 2025.

The Lions are 35-12 overall for the season and 19-5 in the conference.