On Mother’s Day, the Connors State College Cowgirls softball team punched its ticket to the 2024 Women’s Junior College World Series, which got underway Monday and will end Saturday in Oxford, Ala.
The winning pitcher in the Region II Tournament final on Mother’s Day in Piedmont was none other than former Webbers Falls Lady Warrior Brooke Wyatt.
“We’re super excited. It was no better feeling,” said Wyatt, whose team did not make the 2023 Women’s JUCO World Series last spring. “It was amazing, just turning around (while in the pitching circle) and seeing Layne (Sloan) catch that pop fly (in right field). We all just started dogpiling. It was amazing. There was no better feeling in the world.”
Wyatt, who along with her teammates, left Friday morning from Warner for Oxford. The former Lady Warrior is honored to be representing Webbers Falls on the grandest stage of them all for JUCO softball.
“It’s amazing honestly,” she said. “Coming from such a small school that never made it to state, then coming here and performing and making it to the (Women’s Junior College) World Series is amazing — just awesome. I’ve had a bunch of support throughout high school from my parents and this community (Webbers Falls). Webbers Falls is just amazing. They’re super supportive. They watch on Facebook. It’s just been amazing and awesome.”
Wyatt isn’t just certain how she will be feeling this weekend should the Cowgirls bring home the national title.
“I don’t think I can,” she said. “It will be amazing. You don’t make it there very often.”
No matter what the outcome this week, Wyatt’s JUCO softball career will come to a close, so she wants to make sure it ends as best as possible.
“If we go out there and just play our hearts out and do what we know how to do, that’s all you can ask for,” Wyatt said. “If it comes to an end (without the national title), then it comes to an end. As long as we go out there and play 110 percent, we won’t be disappointed.”
Entering this week’s Women’s JUCO World Series, Wyatt is 22-5 with two saves. Her earnedrun average is 2.34, and she has 87 strikeouts on the season for the 39-12 Cowgirls. She is averaging between three and four strikeouts per start.
“Brooke has been a great leader on the field and off the field,” Connors State College softball coach Bobby Foreman said. “She’s accomplished more this year. Quite frankly, she’s throwing her best at the best time. That’s impressive. She’s been consistent. Last year, she was a typical freshman — up and down — but she never quit working. It’s obviously meant a lot. She’s been wonderful. Anytime you have a girl leading the conference in wins, that’s pretty good pitching right there. It makes my life a little bit easier, and makes you a better coach.”
As the team prepared to head to Oxford last week, the team got treated to a special dinner last Wednesday evening at The Rustic Cantina in Vian.
“I was just setting the stage for them,” Rustic Cantina owner Jason Carter said. “One of my good friends is a coach over there, Dennis Sikes. He reached out to me to ask if it would be all right if they brought the girls to feed them because their (Connors State College) cafeteria was closed.”
While Wyatt’s JUCO softball career will end this week, her college softball career will not be as she has committed to Mid-America Christian University (MACU), located in Oklahoma City, for her junior and senior seasons. She’s hoping this week’s Women’s JUCO World Series will be a springboard to help her at MACU.
“I think going to the (Women’s JUCO) World Series is going to let us see a different caliber of softball, playing girls from out of state — girls we’ve never seen before,” Wyatt said. “I think it will prepare me for moving on (to MACU) because I won’t know what I’ll actually be seeing. I’m just going out there pitching and playing my heart out. I’m going to have to face adversity in this tournament, and it will make me mentally and physically strong. I’m ready for it because we’re just jumping into it and go out there and play. Whatever comes at us, we’re going to have to overcome.”
So far, Wyatt’s college softball experience has been all she thought it would be — and more.
“It’s been everything and more,” she said. “I’ve created so many amazing friendships under some pretty amazing coaches. I’ve been on an amazing team. I couldn’t ask for anything else. It’s been awesome. I love the girls on my team. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
