PRCC softball’s Gracey Harbour and Caitlyn Riche sign with 4-year programs

POPLARVILLE, Miss. (PRCC Athletics) — Pearl River softball athletes Caitlyn Riche and Gracey Harbour signed to continue their careers at the four-year level Monday evening.

“It’s always a bittersweet moment, but it’s a great thing for them to get a chance to move on and share the differences they’ve made in our program with another one,” head coach Christie Meeks said. “I’m so proud of them. They brought so much maturity to this team. They are phenomenal athletes, and we’re proud of what they will do at the next level.”

Gracey Harbour (Batesville; South Panola) signed with Belhaven, and Caitlyn Riche (Walker, La.) signed with LSU Alexandria.

GRACEY HARBOUR
Harbour signs with Belhaven after one season as a Wildcat. The sophomore appeared in 31 games for PRCC as a two-way player. She wrapped up the season with a .250 batting average, hitting eight doubles and one homer throughout the year. The sophomore drove in eight runs and walked nine times.

In the circle, Harbour tallied the third most innings on the team, throwing 55 1/3. She had a 3.80 ERA, striking out 58 against 20 walks. She wrapped up the season with a 5-2 record. One of Harbour’s best games of the year came against No. 16 North Iowa Area when she struck out 13 batters in a shutout victory.

For Harbour, Belhaven felt similar to joining the Wildcat family.

“I stepped onto campus, and it felt like home. How I felt with Pearl River was how I felt with Belhaven,” she said. “The coaches were so nice and they care about you as a person more than a softball player. They’re a winning program, and I like to win.”

Harbour mentioned what Pearl River has meant to her.

“PRCC means a lot to me,” she said. “I’ve really grown. I came in as one person and am leaving as a completely different person. I was surrounded by people who pushed me to grow.”

CAITLYN RICHE
Riche spent two seasons in the maroon and gold, appearing in 81 games between catcher and second base. As a freshman, Riche had a .308 batting average, scored 11 runs and drove in 16. She tallied seven doubles and two homers. During her sophomore season, Riche anchored second base, tallying 20 hits with nine going for extra bases. She had 13 RBIs and 14 walks on the year.

Riche talked about deciding to head back to her home state to play.

“I really wanted to get back into Louisiana,” she said. “Whenever I visited there, it just felt like home. I have family in that area, and the coaches were very welcoming.”

Riche touched on her time as a Wildcat.

“Pearl River is another family. It’s my out-of-state family and my home away from home,” she said. “I’ve loved it here. The coaches pushed us on and off the field, and the girls will be my best friends forever.”

NEXT-LEVEL WILDCATS
Riche and Harbour become the 16th and 17th Wildcats to sign at the four-year level since head coach Christie Meeks took over the program in 2020.