2021FallWarrior

WARRIOR WRAP-UP

Tim Anderson Shines in MLB All-Star Game Former East Central baseball stand- out Tim Anderson was tabbed as a Major League Baseball All-Star and represented the Chicago White Sox and the American League in the 2021 All- Star Game in July. It was his first MLB All-Star nod. Anderson, a 2013 first- round draft selection, was the 2019 MLB batting champion. Along with the All-Star honor, Ander- son grabbed national attention again in mid-August as he hit a walk-off, two- run homer in the Field of Dreams Game played in Dyersville, Iowa, to lift his White Sox over the New York Yankees, 9-8. The contest was said to be the most-watched major league game in the past 16 years. Joining Anderson at the game was another ECCC baseball alum, Marcus Thames, who serves as the Yan- kees hitting coach.

terfinals. The impressive play helped bolster the Warriors to an 18th overall team finish in the event. Sasha Clare Named All-American Sasha

man only had six games this season where he did not record a hit and posted 26 multi-hit games. From the leadoff position, he drove in 40 runs and scored 52 times with 16 singles and a team-high six homers. A relief pitcher, Pee threw 28.0 innings in 23 outings and posted a 3-0 record. He surrendered just 35 hits and walked eight batters while striking out 24. The Warriors came within a game of advancing to the College World Series, losing to LSU-Eunice in the NJCAA Region 23 championship game. East Central finished with a 30-17 record and a No. 15 national ranking. Richardson, Gipson Earn Postseason Recognition Lady Warrior softball player Zharia Richardson, a freshman from Gulfport, earned First Team All-Conference hon- ors, while Katelynn Gipson, a freshman from Decatur, picked up an Honorable Mention nod for their solid play during the 2021 spring season. Richardson was ECCC’s leading hitter with a .391 batting average and a .765 slugging percentage. The infielder

Clare of Bel- fast, United Kingdom, earned a lot of recogni- tion for her impressive freshman season for the Lady Warriors soccer team in spring

2021, includ- ing a United Soccer Coaches All-America Team selection. She was also named NJCAA All-Region 23. Clare posted a team-best eight goals on the season with 19 shots on goal through 15 matches and 12 starts. She also showed her tenacity as she played with a cast on her arm due to an injury sustained during the season. During the year she also earned one MACCC Player of the Week selection and one United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week selection for accolades collected thus far. The Lady Warriors finished the spring season with an 11-3-2 record, a No. 13 national ranking, and as MACCC/Region 23 semifinalists. Baseball Warriors Earn All-American Honorable Mention East Central Community College baseball standouts Clayton Cook of Mize and Gates Pee of Clinton were named JBB All-American Honorable Mention for their strong 2021 seasons with the Warriors. JBB is a nationally renowned community and junior col- lege baseball media outlet. The outfielder Cook led the Warriors with a .424 batting average. The fresh-

drove in a team-high 40 runs and was tied for the most runs scored with 32. She finished the season with 11 hom- ers and 10 doubles. Gipson, who played outfield and infield, batted .336 and drove in 32 runs. She also tied

Lawrance Named ITA All-American ECCC’s Chris Lawrance of York, Australia, was named Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American at the conclusion of the 2021 spring season. The prestigious honor is only given to student-athletes who finish in the top 10 of the final ITA singles rankings. Lawrance had a stellar sophomore year for the Warriors at the No. 1 singles flight, ultimately earning him MACCC All-Conference honors for both singles and doubles play. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley signee went on to have a very strong outing at the NJCAA DI Tennis Cham- pionship in Plano, Texas, as he picked up two wins before falling in the quar-

with Rich- ardson on

runs scored with 32. Gip-

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