Troy University Athletics
Trojans Ink Junior College Pitcher
4/16/2009 7:45:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. - The Troy Trojans softball team announced the fourth member of the 2009 signing class today.
Kelsey Garner, a junior college transfer, will put on a Trojans uniform next season as she will take to the mound for the 2010 season.
“We're real excited about having a new member joining our pitching staff,” Trojans head coach Melanie Davis said. “She's had a great career earning Freshman of the Year and Region Player of the Year honors.”
Garner comes to Troy from Western Nebraska Community College. She pitched her way to a 44-10-3 record at the junior college level and struck out 428 batters along the way. According to WNCC, she owns almost every pitching record at the school.
“Sometimes players in that region get overlooked because they are so spread out,” Davis said. “We feel like we've found us a pitcher that can come in and compliment Ashlyn Williams very well.”
The WNCC Cougars made the national tournament last season, and they credit Garner's 31 wins as a big part of their success. She struck out 259 batters, and posted a 31-4 record on the mound during that run last season. That was good enough to put her in first place for strikeouts in a season for the Cougars' record books.
“She's already a solid pitcher,” Davis said. “She's ready for some additional instruction that we think our coaching staff can provide that will really help elevate her game. We're really looking forward to what she will bring to our pitching staff.”
Davis said that Garner also brings a lot to the Trojans off of the field.
“Overall she's a good solid student as well,” Davis said. “Everything we know about her is nothing but quality, and we know she will be a fine addition to our team both on and off the field.”
