Former head softball coach returns to Ottawa University

After rebuilding the MCC-Maple Woods softball team from scratch and establishing an excellent work ethic among her players, former head softball coach Kerry Casper is returning to Ottawa University where she had previously spent two years as an assistant softball coach. She will be serving as an enrollment advisor.

Casper came to MCC-Maple Woods in 2006 and steadily rebuilt a program that had languished without a head coach for three seasons. She came in with a strong background in the sport, having served the University of Minnesota-Crookston as a dynamic pitcher for four seasons. Recruiting mostly local talent, Casper developed an inexperienced squad into a team with great chemistry and softball knowledge, as well as academic excellence. The MCC-Maple Woods softball team consistently had the highest team GPA amongst the athletic teams at the college.

Tiffany Carter, assistant coach, has been named the interim head coach. She came to MCC-Maple Woods fresh from Northwest Missouri State University, where she served the Bearcats as a catcher and infielder. She is a native of the Kansas City Metro area and helped with the recruitment of talent from the surrounding areas. Carter will assume her duties as interim head coach immediately.

NJCAA honors MCC-Maple Woods student athletes

In addition to their on-field talent, several student-athletes at MCC-Maple Woods are flexing their scholarly muscles as well, earning academic honors from the National Junior College Athletics Association for their classroom performance.

Tara Chavez (women’s soccer), Kara Chavez (women’s soccer), Sheryl Mattox (softball) and Mallory White (softball) were each awarded for Exemplary Academic Achievement. Students earning this award must have a cumulative GPA of 3.6 to 3.79.

Tara and Kara are both graduates of Winnetonka High School and are the daughters of Paul Chavez and Theresa Quattlebaum of Kansas City.

Mallory White is a graduate of Marceline High School in Marceline, Mo., and is the daughter of Greg and Patti White. She is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the academic honor society for 2-year institutions.

Sheryl Mattox, daughter of Russell and Shirley Mattox, graduated from Archie High School in Archie, Mo. She is pursuing a degree in architectural engineering and is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

Jeff Cline (baseball) was awarded for Superior Academic Excellence, which requires a 3.8 to 3.99 cumulative GPA. Jeff is a graduate of Platte City High School and is the son of Diane Cline.

Neil Smith (baseball) earned the highest academic honor recognized by the NJCAA – The Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence. Students who earn a perfect 4.0 GPA are selected for this award. Neil graduated from Hickman Mills High School in Columbia, Mo., and is pursuing a degree in biochemical engineering.

MCC-Maple Woods Sports Training Center offering summer youth softball and baseball camps

Keeping the kids out and active this summer is easy at the MCC-Maple Woods sports training center. Baseball and softball camps, taught by college coaches and players, are available for kids aged 7-16. The camps will cover the fundamentals of both games. The camps are $100 per player. To register, send an email with name, address, phone number, school and age to Kenny Hook (baseball) or Kerry Casper (softball).

Softball Season ends for MCC-Maple Woods, with changes and challenges to look forward to next year

The second season for the Softball Monarchs has officially come to a close, with the women finishing 14-34, losing some tough games to the reigning regional champs from Crowder College but winning some games again tough regional opponents like Jefferson College, Johnson County Community College and Eastern Oklahoma College.

The young team is facing some pretty big changes for the upcoming year, losing nine sophomores who, along with head coach Kerry Casper, rebuilt the program from the ground up two years ago. In spite of the big changes, Casper said she is looking forward to an even more successful season next year, with a strong group of freshman coming in and three veteran players to provide leadership.

MCC-Maple Woods Video Spotlight: Softball

Megan Moore and Amy Wendleton commit to Monarchs softball for 2010

 Megan Moore, a recruit from Topeka, KS, was the first official Class of 2011 signee for the Monarchs, is a talented outfielder and first baseman. According to softball head coach Kerry Kasper, Moore will "bring lots of energy and leadership to the team.  She will certainly lead by example on and off the field, as she also plans to work hard off the field towards a degree to get her into pharmacy.  She will help us out in the outfield as well as the busy corner of first base."

Amy Wendleton joins the Monarchs from William Chrisman High School in Independence, Mo. and is a versatile hitter and fielder. Kasper expects her to contribute a lot, noting that "Amy will be an extremely versatile player for us.  She will bring speed to our lineup and has numerous skills that will be a threat at the plate.  I am anxious to see her display her skills and cross the plate for us many times in 2012!  She will be working on a degree in education, and will help us out in the outfield and middle infield positions."

Red vs. Green - Haley and Hannah Hill compete for softball supremacy

Like most sibling, there is a friendly rivalry between MCC-Maple Woods softball player Haley Hill and her twin sister, Hannah. Both athletes from Mayview, Mo., that rivalry is still going strong, even though the girls now attend different colleges two hours apart.

Haley is a starting outfielder for the Monarchs while Hannah plays outfield for the North Central Missouri College Pirates. The two sisters meet twice per year, once at MCC-Maple Woods and once in Trenton, Mo., for their softball showdown.

The twins grandparents, who are in the unique position of cheering for both sisters at once, travel to the games wearing red and green shirts split down the middle.

Play Ball! Spring Athletics are back at MCC-Maple Woods!

The baseball and softball Monarchs are back in action at MCC-Maple Woods for the spring semester.
The baseball Monarchs begin their season on the road, but will play their home opener against Iowa Central College at 1 p.m. Feb. 26 at the MCC-MW baseball field.


The softball Monarchs also start the 2011 season on the road, and will play a double-header home opener against Highland Community College at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. March 8 at Happy Rock Park in Gladstone, Mo.

MCC-Maple Woods softball team holds 100-inning fundraiser

The MCC-Maple Woods softball team put a lot of effort into their fundraiser for next season - about 12 hours and 100 innings worth. The girls played 100 consecutive innings of softball beginning at 8 a.m. Oct. 9 at Happy Rock Park in Gladstone, Mo. Funds were raised via player sponsorship for each girl or outright donations.

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Join the Monarchs softball team for 100 innings of softball!

Yes, you read that correctly. The MCC-Maple Woods softball team is participating in a 100-INNING game on Oct. 9, 2010. The event, which is a fundraiser for the team, will be held at Happy Rock Park and different innings will feature different players, rules and styles of play.

Feel like dusting off the old softball glove and showing your skills? The team is welcoming challengers from MCC as well as the community to take on the team in one or more innings. Sponsors are also needed for individual players - if you would like more information on sponsorship, contact head coach Kerry Casper for details.

Funds raised from this event, which the team hopes to make an annual event, will be used for travel expenses, equipment, tournament entries, uniforms and other necessities.

MCC-Maple Woods employees and students play for softball supremecy

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MCC-Maple Woods hosted it's first employee/student softball game, braving the slippery, wet conditions to battle for softball bragging rights. Great hits, overthrown balls, "slides" into second base (we're looking at you, Terrell), frizzy hair and barefoot thirdbasemen were all a part of the fun but soggy afternoon.

The employees won the game 6-4.