Kaitlyn Smith. (Photo by Bill Roa )

Softball outfielder Kaitlyn Smith was named to the 2012 NJCAA softball Academic All-America Team. A health and physical education major, Smith graduated from Georgia Perimeter College in May with a 3.73 grade point average. She received scholarship offers to play softball at four-year institutions but chose to leave the game and focus on academics in her junior and senior years.

Athletic Director Alfred Barney named Ken Deyton as the Jaguars’ new head softball coach. Deyton served for five years as assistant coach under Ed Schutte, who left the college in April. Deyton served as interim head coach for the last five games this spring. “Ken is a perfect fit for the softball head coaching position at GPC,” Barney said. “He will continue the program’s winning tradition that he helped establish.”

Barney also named Brett Campbell as interim head baseball coach, replacing Stewart Bailey, who left the college after coaching a successful 2012 season. Campbell served as Bailey’s pitching coach, and his pitching staff produced the best earned run average in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. A standout at Kennesaw State University, he was chosen in the 34th round of the 2004 amateur draft, sped through the minor leagues and appeared in four games as a reliever for the Washington Nationals. …

To follow the Jaguars, visit www.gpc.edu/athletic.