ANKENY, Iowa—The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Board of Directors recently had an opportunity to recognize the performance this season of the DMACC softball team, including Mollie Jacobsen of Adel and Bailey Richards of Van Meter.  Jacobsen and Richards were on hand to present a framed photo to DMACC President Rob Denson and the DMACC Board of Directors.  Pitcher Jacobsen and catcher Richards were named to the first team of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Softball All-American Team, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NJCAA All-American team, NFCA All-Midwest Region Softball Team and led the Bears to a 48-2 record and third place finish in the NJCAA Division II Softball Championship.

Left to Right are DMACC Board member Fred Greiner of Boone, Denson, Jacobsen, Richards, DMACC Board President Joe Pugel of Newton, DMACC Athletic Director BJ McGinn and Softball Head Coach Bob Ligouri.

Jacobsen and Richards and Head Coach Bob Ligouri received plaques from the DMACC Board of Directors at the recent DMACC Board meeting held on the Ankeny Campus.  Ligouri told the board his team focused on their academic success.  He said since the softball program started seven years ago, every DMACC student athlete who has worn a DMACC softball uniform has graduated from the two-year program with most going on to earn four-year degrees and beyond. The Bears won their first 46 games enroute to a third place finish in the national softball tournament. 

Left to Right are DMACC Board member Fred Greiner of Boone, DMACC President Rob Denson, Jacobsen, Richards, Ligouri and DMACC Board President Joe Pugel of Newton.

DMACC softball pitcher Molly Jacobsen also received the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Female Athlete of the Year Award presented by DMACC Athletic Director BJ McGinn. Jacobsen, a pre-med major, has signed a national letter of intent to transfer and play softball at the University of Mississippi in the fall.  She earned All-Academic honors from the NJCAA.  The two-time All-American had a 26-2 record with a 0.47 earned run average, led the NJCAA in strikeouts with 312 and was one of DMACC’s top hitters compiling a .420 batting average with a .495 on-base percentage and a .648 slugging percentage.

Molly Jacobsen on the left and DMACC Athletic Director BJ McGinn

(contributed article and photos, DMACC)