For the second time in less than a week, Northwest freshman infielder McKaylee Polk has received more national recognition.
Just days after earning NJCAA Division II All-American accolades from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Polk was named an All-American once again on Tuesday, this time from the NJCAA itself.
Polk led the Rangers at the plate for most of the season, finishing the 2022 season with a .397 batting average, 18 doubles, a triple and a team-best 19 home runs. The standout from Senatobia also led the team with 61 runs batted in and an .822 slugging percentage for the season.
Most of Polk’s stats landed her in the top 10 of several single-season and career statistical categories at Northwest, including setting a new single-season record for home runs, surpassing Koczka’s previous record of 14 set just last year.
Polk is the Rangers’ second NJCAA All-American in as many seasons, joining Saige Koczka, who received second team recognition in 2021. She is also one of five MACCC softball standouts to receive national recognition from the NJCAA, joining Cera Blanchard (Copiah-Lincoln), Lauren Lindsey (Jones College), Brinson Anne Rogers (Pearl River), and Nia Luckett (Jones College).
Northwest finished the season with a program-best 39-15 overall record. The Rangers captured their first Region 23 title and advanced to the NJCAA Division II Softball Championships for the first time, finishing as one of the last four teams remaining in the 16-team tournament field.
Bob Bakken is the most recognized and most trusted name in DeSoto County news and sports reporting, as readers continue to express their appreciation for his accuracy and fairness in the stories he writes. Bob is also heard on 95.3 The Rebel twice a week with sports updates and high school football play-by-play broadcasts in the fall. A former newspaper editor and writer, his award-winning background also includes television news producing, sports media relations, and radio broadcasting.
