Four Rangers chosen for all-MACCC accolades
Four members of the Northwest softball program have been selected for all-conference honors, the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) announced on Tuesday morning, May 14
Infielder Ellie Fryar was chosen for Second Team All-MACCC recognition, while the trio of outfielder Madeline Houk, pitcher Morgen Brewton and pitcher Neely Cooper earned Honorable Mention All-MACCC accolades.
Entering her freshman season, Fryar was tasked with filling the shoes of former MACCC Player of the Year and NJCAA All-American McKaylee “K.K.” Polk at third base, and the Ripley native stepped up to the task. The Pine Grove alumnus finished as the team leader in batting average (.364) with a team-best 13 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 22 RBIs.
Additionally, Fryar’s .586 slugging percentage and .448 on-base percentage ranked second only to Kaylee Owens’ averages of .654 and .449. She also finished with a .946 fielding percentage, accounting for 107 assists and 33 putouts in 148 total chances.
Fryar also found herself in the program’s single-season record books, finishing with 140 at-bats, 13 doubles and 21 stolen bases, finishing eighth in all three categories.
Like Fryar, Houk was also tasked with filling big shoes in centerfield, taking over the position the past two seasons for Laila Armstrong. The Pell City, Ala. native and University of Mobile signee concluded her sophomore year with a .253 batting average, three doubles, a triple, two home runs and 13 RBIs. However, her .925 fielding percentage this season was the most impactful statistic of all, as Houk was responsible for 47 putouts and two assists in 53 total chances.
Houk also ends her Northwest career in the record books, tied for sixth in single-season sacrifice hits (8) and tied for seventh in career sacrifice hits (11), joining Stormy Robison (2011-12) and Brittni Beard (2019-20) in the same category.
Brewton’s freshman season was a successful one, as the Mobile, Ala. native finished the year with a 14-6 overall record, a 2.65 ERA, 10 complete games and 109/19 strikeout-walk ratio. Her strikeout and wins total for sixth in a single-season, while her total innings pitched (124.0) ranks ninth in a single-season. Brewton’s 10 complete games are also tied for ninth in the program’s career record books, joining Kaylei Peterson (2020-21).
Cooper also reached the 100-strikeout milestone this season, finishing with exactly 100 strikeouts against 34 walks. The Florence native and Blue Mountain Christian University signee also threw 136.0 innings with 11 wins, eight complete games and a 2.73 ERA. Cooper also leaves Northwest in several single-season and career record categories, with her 26 appearances finishing tied for ninth in a single-season. Her 126 career strikeouts rank ninth all-time and her 165.1 innings pitched also rank ninth in the career record books.
Northwest finished the 2024 season with a 27-20 overall record, earning the program’s fourth straight appearance in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament in coach Chelsea Bramlett‘s five-year tenure.
