Lyndsey Parden led Region 17 in strikeouts with 179 and had the best earned run average in conference games, 0.85. (photo by Gerald Moulder)

by Wade Marbaugh

Lyndsey Parden plans to transfer to a four-year college and continue what she does best—study hard and strike out batters.

During her two-year career with the Georgia Perimeter College softball team, Parden pitched seven shutouts, one a perfect game last year against Calhoun Community College (Ala.).

Parden led Region 17 of the National Junior College Athletic Association in strikeouts her freshman season and repeated the feat this year, fanning 179 batters, 116 against conference opponents. She struck out 18 in one game. In region games, her 0.85 earned run average was the best in the conference.

The region coaches selected her and teammates Vanessa Buitrago and Morgan Howard to the All-Region 17 first team. It was the second time Parden earned that honor.

“Lyndsey picked up where she left off her freshman season,” said GPC head coach Ken Deyton. “This young lady is as competitive and driven as anybody who has ever put on a GPC softball uniform.”

Buitrago, also a sophomore, led the team in hitting with a .349 average and made no errors in the field in 81 total chances, a remarkable accomplishment.

A freshman catcher-infielder, Howard was known to put the ball in play—she struck out only six times all season and hit .333 in GCAA games.

Despite the players’ stellar achievements, Georgia Highlands College knocked the Jaguars out of the double-elimination region tournament via an unbelievable five-run comeback.

After the teams played to a 2-2 draw through seven innings—sending the game into an extra inning—GPC assembled a four-run rally in the top of the eighth featuring a three-run home run by Maegan Coddington. The Jaguars were poised to advance in the tournament.

Instead, the Chargers galloped back in the bottom of the eighth to score five runs, winning the game 7-6 on a walk-off RBI single.

“We lost both tournament games by one run,” Deyton said. “They got away from us.”

The Jaguars ended the 2014 campaign with a 22-21 record, 13-7 in the conference.

“I’m proud of our sophomores,” Deyton said. “They took the program to nationals their freshman year. They’ve set the standards for teams to come.”

Read more about Jaguar softball.