Sports
Four PRCC softball standouts sign with four-year schools
Story from PRCC Athletics:
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The Pearl River softball program announced Wednesday that four student-athletes are headed to their four-year homes.
This year’s outgoing signing class includes William Carey signee Julianah Overstreet (Vancleave), Spring Hill signee Jena Pacheco (Vancleave), Southern Arkansas signee Brinson Anne Rogers (Statesboro, Ga.) and Montevallo signee Mya Young (Paxton, Fla.)
“I am so proud of every one of our players for continuing their education and moving on to be phenomenal strong women. I am especially proud of these four young ladies who will continue to use the talent they have been given,” Pearl River coach Christie Meeks said. “We are so grateful for their legacy and the new heights they have set the bar to.
“This group has continued to strengthen the foundation that has been laid in our softball program. For that, I am forever grateful for each of them. I can’t wait to see them move mountains at their new homes.”
JULIANAH OVERSTREET
A multi-sport star at Pearl River, Overstreet will get to continue that at the next level as she heads to William Carey for volleyball and softball.
As a freshman, Overstreet played in 46 games for the Wildcats, hitting .343 with 11 doubles, seven homers and 35 RBIs. Overstreet took it up a notch during her sophomore campaign, hitting her way to a .373 batting average and .422 on-base percentage. She tallied 37 RBIs, 37 runs scored, 11 doubles, four homers and two triples.
Overstreet talked about her experience at The River.
“Pearl River means family to me,” Overstreet said. “Being here was the best decision I could have made. I made friends here that I can go to when I need help with anything. It’s been the best two years of my life.”
For Overstreet, staying closer to home was essential.
“William Carey was the right fit because I could continue to play both sports,” she said. “It was close to home — and it was close to Pearl River. I can stop by and visit everyone when I want to.”
JENA PACHECO
During the 2021-22 season, Pacheco featured in 40 games, hitting .224 with two doubles and eight RBIs. She walked 12 times. Her sophomore season saw her tally a .267 batting average with five walks, four RBIs and four doubles.
Pacheco talked about her time as a Wildcat.
“Pearl River has been the best two years of my life — no doubt. I met friends I’ll remember forever,” Pacheco said. “I loved my coaches. I’ll always look up to them and keep in touch with them. Pearl River was home for me. I loved the small town because I grew up in a small town.”
She hit on why she was going to attend Spring Hill.
“I really loved the coaching staff at Spring Hill. The head coach was very genuine,” she said. “Spring Hill is in a good area, and I am very excited to go there. It was also a bonus since it was closer to home.”
BRINSON ANNE ROGERS
Rogers goes down as the top pitcher in Pearl River softball history. Her redshirt freshman campaign saw her earn a 17-5 record with two saves and 16 complete games. Across 156 1/3 innings pitched, Rogers held a 0.94 ERA and struck out an outstanding 299 batters. At season’s end, Rogers was named an NFCA First Team All-American, an NJCAA Second Team All-American, All-Region 23 and All-MACCC.
It was going to be tough for Rogers to replicate that success as a sophomore, but she did just that. The right-hander finished the year with a 20-4 record and 18 complete games. She threw 160 1/3 innings and held an ERA of 1.05. She struck out 267 batters which placed her fourth nationally. She ended the year with a batting average-against of just .130 and a WHIP of .700.
Rogers racked up postseason awards as a sophomore. She took home NFCA First Team All-American, NJCAA Second Team All-American, MACCC Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-MACCC and All-Region 23. Her All-American selection made her the first two-time All-American in program history.
Rogers learned to love the game again because of her time at PRCC.
“Pearl River means so much to me. It changed me so much from when I first got here,” Rogers said. “I was a girl who didn’t love the game anymore. The last two years have made me love the game again. I’ve been surrounded by great people from the town to the staff to the fans. It’s been nothing but southern hospitality.”
Rogers added what made Southern Arkansas her choice.
“It was a long road trying to pick a school. Southern Arkansas just felt right. I went on a lot of visits,” she said. “It felt like home, and it gave the same energy as Pearl River, which I really appreciated.”
MYA YOUNG
Young heads to Montevallo after just one season with the Wildcats. The right-handed pitcher appeared in eight games for PRCC and tallied a 3-1 record with a 5.17 ERA across 23 innings pitched. She struck out 12 batters on the year.
Young talked about the friends she made along the way.
“I had a great experience at Pearl River,” Young said. “I made lots of lifelong friends. Even though I won’t be here next year, I will continue to stay in touch.”
Young was excited to join the Falcons.
“It’s closer to home for me, which is a big thing. I was dual enrolled in high school, so going ahead and transferring to a university was right for me academically,” she said. “Montevallo had a similar feel to here. It’s a university, but it’s in a small town which is like where I am from.”
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