Chattanooga, Tenn. — Saturday evening in St. George, Utah, Chattanooga State Community College’s Lady Tigers Softball team became the first local team to bring home a National Championship. After weeks of firmly holding on to the number one spot in NJCAA Division I softball, the Lady Tigers clinched the deal by defeating the second-seeded Lady Bruins of Salt Lake Community College 4-1 on a three-hitter by MVP Ashley Czechner.

“The feeling of winning a National Championship stirs virtually every emotion a person can have. There’s happiness beyond belief, relief, and the knowledge that a National Championship is with you for a lifetime,” says Chattanooga State Athletic Director Steve Jaecks.

The Lady Tigers’ march to victory was not without setbacks. On Friday, a 4-1 loss in the winners-bracket final to Salt Lake, a school with more than 60,000 students, forced Chattanooga State to battle back by winning three games on Saturday. First, the Lady Tigers defeated the Pima Community College Lady Aztecs of Tucson, AZ. Next, they faced the Salt Lake Lady Bruins again in two games in order to claim their ultimate victory.

When asked about her reaction to the momentary loss to Salt Lake, Coach Beth Keylon-Randolph replied, “It’s funny, when you lose a game like that your first reaction is to get nervous, but we never felt we were in trouble. My team was convinced overwhelmingly that they would win, which made me feel really confident.”

Prior to this year’s win, the Lady Tigers best tournament showing was third place in 2008. However, with 16 years of tournament appearances out of 18 years of NJCAA Division I play, the Lady Tigers not only brought home the championship trophy, but other prestigious honors as well. Chattanooga State Coach Beth Keylon-Randolph was honored as the outstanding tournament coach, while Ashley Czechner received outstanding pitcher, most valuable player, and all-tournament team honors.

“Just to see the girls celebrate the National Championship they earned from all their hard work in practice, study and play is gratifying,” adds Jaecks.

Czechner will continue her softball career at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. In addition, Lady Tigers Lacye Walker, Andrea Dalton and Beth Breeden were named to the all-tournament team.

Over the course of the Lady Tigers softball teams’ spectacular season with a 62-4 record, there were two other noteworthy events: they defeated the UTC Lady Mocs in a 5-0 shut out earlier in the season; and Czechner had 374 strikeouts, the most of any pitcher in NJCCA history.

As a way of commemorating the Lady Tigers’ accomplishment, bricks may be purchased from the Chattanooga State Foundation to honor the coach, individual team members or the team as a whole. Each brick will be permanently enshrined in an area between the Athletic Field House and the softball field. Proceeds from the sale of these commemorative bricks will be used to support the Lady Tigers softball team. For further details or to purchase a brick contact Associate Vice President Holly Reeve at (423) 697-2656 or email holly.reeve@chattanoogastate.edu.

Chattanooga State Community College is a comprehensive, regionally accredited community college, governed by the policies and guidelines as set forth by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Chattanooga State’s mission is to transform the lives of individuals and to develop the capacities of the business and industrial communities through technical and postsecondary education. Founded in 1965, the college serves a six-county area in Southeast Tennessee and offers more than 50 educational programs. You can become our friend on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ChattState, or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ChattStateCC.

Lady Tigers Softball Team Roster
# Name Class Position Hometown – High School
1 Shelby Johnson SO CF Jefferson GA – East Jackson
2 Allie Baker FR 2B Ringgold GA – Ringgold
3 Andie Johnson SO 2B Soddy Daisy TN – Soddy Daisy
5 Heather Richards FR U Jasper TN – Marion County
6 Andrea Dalton SO LF Tryone GA – Sandy Creek
7 Marina Wilkerson FR OF Hogansville GA – LaGrange Academy
9 Lacye Walker FR 1B/P Ooltewah TN – Grace Academy
10 Megan Crawford SO 1B Ringgold GA – Ringgold
11 Makinley Fletcher FR 2B Newnan GA – Arlington Christian
12 Chelsea Burgess SO C Dunlap TN – Sequatchie County
14 Kat McInturff FR C Elizabethton TN – Unaka
15 Kadey Robinson SO P Elizabethton TN – Elizabethton
16 Courtney DeLay SO SS Cleveland TN – Cleveland
19 Kristen Qualls FR OF Columbus – GA Northside
20 Beth Breeden FR 1B Sweetwater TN – Sweetwater
21 MeQuilla Franklin SO 3B Conyers GA – Rockdale County
23 Janna Scheff FR P Cartersville GA – Excel Christian
24 Kortney Koroll FR U Saint Catherines ON – Governors Simcoe
97 Cassie Lyons FR P/U Knoxville TN – Karns
99 Ashley Czechner SO P Pawleys Island SC – Waccamaw