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WESSON – Co-Lin Softball sophomore pitcher Cera Blanchard was named the Softball Pitcher of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference on Thursday, May 12.
The Metairie, Louisiana native has been one of the top performers in every statistical pitching category throughout the entire season and in conference play as the ace of the Lady Wolves staff.
In conference play, Blanchard made 18 appearances with 14 starts and had a 13-3 overall record with the 13 wins leading all pitchers in MACCC play. In 98.2 innings pitched (led conference) she allowed 23 runs, 12 earned, on 58 hits with 103 strikeouts and 31 walks leading to a 0.85 era (the strikeouts and ERA were second-best marks in the MACCC conference only stats). Blanchard also started conference play without allowing an earned run for the first 32.2 innings pitched.
Blanchard was also named MACCC Pitcher of the Week earlier this week after posting a perfect 4-0 record in the MACCC Tournament helping to lead the Lady Wolves to their first conference championship since 2009. This was the second time Blanchard earned the honor this season and was also named national pitcher of the week by the NJCAA in March after posting a 3-0 week with 26 strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
The Southeastern Louisiana commit has cemented herself firmly in the single season record books with her performance in 2022 making 32 appearances (second-most) with 27 starts. Blanchard has a 25-5 overall record (25 wins is the most in a single season in program history) and has one save with 18 complete games pitched this season. In 182.1 innings pitched this season she has allowed 52 runs, 34 earned, on 123 hits with 178 strikeouts (fourth-most in a single season) and 54 walks with an ERA of 1.31.
For her career, Blanchard has 40 wins and 316 strikeouts with both marks being the second-most in school history. In 2021, she received First Team All-MACCC, NFCA All-South Region, and NJCAA DII Second Team All-American, as well as the All-Region 23 Softball Team.
Blanchard and the Lady Wolves season continues in the Region 23 Tournament as they look to punch their ticket to the NJCAA DII National Tournament for the first time since 2009.
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