Tyler Dobson retweeted
College Softball Program of the Day #009: Pearl River Wildcats
27 home runs. 78 RBIs. A 1.019 slugging percentage. As a freshman.
2027 and 2028 players, if you want to see how fast a junior college can turn talent into a title, look at Pearl River Community College in i. In 2026 the Wildcats made their first-ever trip to the NJCAA Division II World Series and walked out with the first national championship in program history.
The 2026 season by the numbers:
- 48-7 overall and 24-4 in the MACCC
- 21-2 at home
- 5-0 at the NJCAA Division II World Series as the No. 5 seed
- Beat No. 1 Kirkwood, No. 2 Murray State and No. 4 Rock Valley on the way to the final
- Won the title 2-1 over Des Moines Area on a two-out, two-run triple in the sixth inning
The offense was relentless. As a team the Wildcats hit .365 with a .452 on-base percentage and a .592 slugging percentage, scored 380 runs, hit 69 home runs and stole 130 bases in 55 games.
The pitching closed the door. The staff posted a 2.16 ERA, held opponents to a .202 average, struck out 431 batters in 355.2 innings and threw 15 shutouts.
The stars produced. Shania Fondren hit .396 with a .490 on-base percentage and set program single-season records with 27 home runs and 78 RBIs. She was an NJCAA First Team All-American, an NFCA Second Team All-American and the World Series Outstanding Defensive Player, and she is back for her sophomore season. Jaycee Holifield hit .365 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs as a freshman and was an NFCA Second Team All-American. Natalee Eaves hit .440 with 10 home runs, 68 RBIs and 21 steals and was the World Series Outstanding Offensive Player. Kai Goodman hit .381 with a .507 on-base percentage and 33 steals and left as the program's career stolen base leader. In the circle, Ana-Grace Garcia went 23-2 with a 2.14 ERA, 187 strikeouts and 17 complete games, was a First Team All-American and was named World Series MVP after beating four top-10 seeds.
New head coach Jake Loper takes over a national champion. Christie Meeks, who built the title team over seven seasons, left this summer to become associate head coach at South Alabama. Loper is the fourth head coach in program history and one of Mississippi's most decorated high school coaches. He went 118-30 in four seasons at West Lauderdale with Class 4A state titles in 2023, 2024 and 2026, and before that won a Class 2A state title at Lake. He owns a 179-51 career fast-pitch record with four state championships in seven seasons, and his plan is simple: recruit Mississippi first, add key out-of-state pieces and compete for another national title right away.
His 2027 staff: Kaylan Ladner, a Kiln native, coaches the pitchers after two seasons as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana, where the Lions won the 2025 Southland Tournament title. As a player she set the Southern Miss single-game strikeout record with 17. Tyler Dobson, entering his third season, is an assistant and the team's strength and conditioning coach, and was on staff for the title run.
The pipeline is real. Seven Wildcats signed with four-year programs off the 2026 team: Eaves to Campbell, Garcia to McNeese, Goodman to Southeastern Louisiana, Maeli Ben and Emmaleigh Theriot to Delta State, Anastasia Acree to Spring Hill and Ann Elise Duncan to William Carey. Duncan moved on after just one season. The 2027 roster is built heavily on in-state talent, with 16 of 19 players from Mississippi.
@PearlRiverSB @PRCCAthletics @JakeLoper_30 @KaylanLadner @TylerDobson25
National Softball Recruiting | @NatlSBRecruit
2027 and 2028 players and parents, DM us "INFO" and we'll help you build a real list of schools and a plan to get seen.
27 home runs. 78 RBIs. A 1.019 slugging percentage. As a freshman.
2027 and 2028 players, if you want to see how fast a junior college can turn talent into a title, look at Pearl River Community College in i. In 2026 the Wildcats made their first-ever trip to the NJCAA Division II World Series and walked out with the first national championship in program history.
The 2026 season by the numbers:
- 48-7 overall and 24-4 in the MACCC
- 21-2 at home
- 5-0 at the NJCAA Division II World Series as the No. 5 seed
- Beat No. 1 Kirkwood, No. 2 Murray State and No. 4 Rock Valley on the way to the final
- Won the title 2-1 over Des Moines Area on a two-out, two-run triple in the sixth inning
The offense was relentless. As a team the Wildcats hit .365 with a .452 on-base percentage and a .592 slugging percentage, scored 380 runs, hit 69 home runs and stole 130 bases in 55 games.
The pitching closed the door. The staff posted a 2.16 ERA, held opponents to a .202 average, struck out 431 batters in 355.2 innings and threw 15 shutouts.
The stars produced. Shania Fondren hit .396 with a .490 on-base percentage and set program single-season records with 27 home runs and 78 RBIs. She was an NJCAA First Team All-American, an NFCA Second Team All-American and the World Series Outstanding Defensive Player, and she is back for her sophomore season. Jaycee Holifield hit .365 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs as a freshman and was an NFCA Second Team All-American. Natalee Eaves hit .440 with 10 home runs, 68 RBIs and 21 steals and was the World Series Outstanding Offensive Player. Kai Goodman hit .381 with a .507 on-base percentage and 33 steals and left as the program's career stolen base leader. In the circle, Ana-Grace Garcia went 23-2 with a 2.14 ERA, 187 strikeouts and 17 complete games, was a First Team All-American and was named World Series MVP after beating four top-10 seeds.
New head coach Jake Loper takes over a national champion. Christie Meeks, who built the title team over seven seasons, left this summer to become associate head coach at South Alabama. Loper is the fourth head coach in program history and one of Mississippi's most decorated high school coaches. He went 118-30 in four seasons at West Lauderdale with Class 4A state titles in 2023, 2024 and 2026, and before that won a Class 2A state title at Lake. He owns a 179-51 career fast-pitch record with four state championships in seven seasons, and his plan is simple: recruit Mississippi first, add key out-of-state pieces and compete for another national title right away.
His 2027 staff: Kaylan Ladner, a Kiln native, coaches the pitchers after two seasons as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana, where the Lions won the 2025 Southland Tournament title. As a player she set the Southern Miss single-game strikeout record with 17. Tyler Dobson, entering his third season, is an assistant and the team's strength and conditioning coach, and was on staff for the title run.
The pipeline is real. Seven Wildcats signed with four-year programs off the 2026 team: Eaves to Campbell, Garcia to McNeese, Goodman to Southeastern Louisiana, Maeli Ben and Emmaleigh Theriot to Delta State, Anastasia Acree to Spring Hill and Ann Elise Duncan to William Carey. Duncan moved on after just one season. The 2027 roster is built heavily on in-state talent, with 16 of 19 players from Mississippi.
@PearlRiverSB @PRCCAthletics @JakeLoper_30 @KaylanLadner @TylerDobson25
National Softball Recruiting | @NatlSBRecruit
2027 and 2028 players and parents, DM us "INFO" and we'll help you build a real list of schools and a plan to get seen.
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
America, start your engines.
๐บ @FOXSports & @TelemundoSports
๐ Seattle, Washington
โฐ 8PM ET / 5PM PT
๐บ @FOXSports & @TelemundoSports
๐ Seattle, Washington
โฐ 8PM ET / 5PM PT
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
NATIONAL STAFF OF THE YEAR!๐
After guiding Pearl River to a 48-7 record and a National Championship in our first-ever World Series appearance, PRCC's coaching staff has been named the NFCA/ATEC National Coaching Staff of the Year! ๐
#RRR๐พ
After guiding Pearl River to a 48-7 record and a National Championship in our first-ever World Series appearance, PRCC's coaching staff has been named the NFCA/ATEC National Coaching Staff of the Year! ๐
#RRR๐พ
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
No. 5 Pearl River knocks off No. 1 Kirkwood, punches ticket to semifinals
๐ฐprccathletics.com/sports/sball/2โฆ
#RRR๐พ
๐ฐprccathletics.com/sports/sball/2โฆ
#RRR๐พ
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
An all-around showing!๐ช
Natalee Eaves hit .441 with 13 doubles, eight homers, 59 RBIs and 19 stolen bases this season! She had a team-high 67 hits!
The Campbell signee earned First Team All-MACCC honors!
#RRR๐พ
Natalee Eaves hit .441 with 13 doubles, eight homers, 59 RBIs and 19 stolen bases this season! She had a team-high 67 hits!
The Campbell signee earned First Team All-MACCC honors!
#RRR๐พ
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
29 walks, 33 stolen bases and a .511 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot ๐
Kai Goodman has been named Second Team All-MACCC!
#RRR๐พ
Kai Goodman has been named Second Team All-MACCC!
#RRR๐พ
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
An on-base MACHINE! ๐
Addy Grace Alexander had a .446 average and a .537 on-base percentage for the Wildcats this season, earning Second Team All-MACCC!
#RRR๐พ
Addy Grace Alexander had a .446 average and a .537 on-base percentage for the Wildcats this season, earning Second Team All-MACCC!
#RRR๐พ
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
A DOMINANT season from Ann Elise Duncan!
The William Carey signee went 13-3 in the circle with a 2.20 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP and 123 strikeouts! ๐ค
#RRR๐พ
The William Carey signee went 13-3 in the circle with a 2.20 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP and 123 strikeouts! ๐ค
#RRR๐พ
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
NATALEE EAVES! She ends the top of the eighth with a fantastic catch against the fence!
B8 | No. 1 Pearl River 4, No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln 4
๐ฅ๏ธPRCCMedia.com/gold
๐พ#RRR
B8 | No. 1 Pearl River 4, No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln 4
๐ฅ๏ธPRCCMedia.com/gold
๐พ#RRR
We're headed to extra innings at Wildcat Stadium!
T8 | No. 1 Pearl River 4, No. 3 Copiah Lincoln 4
๐ฅ๏ธPRCCMedia.com/gold
๐พ#RRR
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
We have a WALKOFF IN WILDCAT STADIUM!
Jaycee Holifield sends a rocket over the center field fence to propel Pearl River over Copiah Lincoln!
FINAL | No. 1 Pearl River 5, No. 3 Copiah Lincoln 4
#RRR
Jaycee Holifield sends a rocket over the center field fence to propel Pearl River over Copiah Lincoln!
FINAL | No. 1 Pearl River 5, No. 3 Copiah Lincoln 4
#RRR
NATALEE EAVES! She ends the top of the eighth with a fantastic catch against the fence!
B8 | No. 1 Pearl River 4, No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln 4
๐ฅ๏ธPRCCMedia.com/gold
๐พ#RRR
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
Southern Miss advances to Omaha for the first time in program history (2009)
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
BANGGGGGG! MAELI BEN makes her first bomb of the season count with a 2-RUN WALKOFF home run!
FINAL | No. 1 Pearl River 4, No. 6 Jones 2
๐พ#RRR
FINAL | No. 1 Pearl River 4, No. 6 Jones 2
๐พ#RRR
GARCIA STRIKES AGAIN! She's up to 1๏ธโฃ0๏ธโฃ strikeouts!
B8 | No. 1 Pearl River 2, No. 6 Jones 2
๐ฅ๏ธPRCCMedia.com/gold
๐พ#RRR
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
CHAMPIONSHIP. BOUND.๐ค
Pearl River beats rival Gulf Coast by double digits for the SECOND time this season to advance to the Region 23 Championship game!
We'll take on Northwest Friday at 6 p.m. in the title game!๐
#RRR๐พ
Pearl River beats rival Gulf Coast by double digits for the SECOND time this season to advance to the Region 23 Championship game!
We'll take on Northwest Friday at 6 p.m. in the title game!๐
#RRR๐พ
Pearl River has an 11-point lead with one minute remaining!
4Q | Pearl River 61, Gulf Coast 50
๐ฅ๏ธPRCCMedia.com/gold
๐๏ธWRJWRadio.com
๐พ#RRR
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Tyler Dobson retweeted
A historic hundredth win for Christian Ostrander in just 137 games!
That is the fastest any head coach has reached the milestone in Golden Eagle Baseball history, ahead of Pete Taylor at 163, Scott Berry at 165, Corky Palmer at 168 and Hill Denson at 230.
#OTR | #ETM | #SMTTT
That is the fastest any head coach has reached the milestone in Golden Eagle Baseball history, ahead of Pete Taylor at 163, Scott Berry at 165, Corky Palmer at 168 and Hill Denson at 230.
#OTR | #ETM | #SMTTT
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