BOONEVILLE, Miss. – Northeast Mississippi Community College's softball program continues to garner some of the state's top talent as Lady Tiger head coach Jody Long added South Panola's Marla Rudd to the Lady Tigers 2013-14 signing class on Wednesday, June 12.
Rudd, an outfielder, agreed to keep her Tiger mascot when the South Panola standout signed with the Northeast softball program during a ceremony held at the Panola County-based school.
With the addition of Rudd, Northeast's softball program has signed nine new faces to the team during the signing period including New Albany's Morgan Beaty and Shannon Goode, East Webster's Abigail Rish, Alcorn Central's Chelsea Buntin, Corinth's Haley Christian, Booneville's Bre Agnew and Houston's Yasmeen Cooper and Avery Springer.
"We are getting a great athlete out of a great program. Coach Hicks does a tremendous job at South Panola," said Long. "Marla will add depth in our outfield out of our 2013-14 signing class."
Rudd has been a driving force for Ashleigh Hicks' Lady Tigers at South Panola High School during her varsity career.
In the 2012-13 season, Rudd appeared in 24 of 26 games for the Lady Tigers hitting .329 with a .390 on base percentage.
Rudd collected 23 hits during her senior campaign at South Panola including a double and two triples.
In her final varsity season, Rudd had 82 plate appearances for the Lady Tigers and 70 at bats knocking in 13 runs and scoring 11 while leading South Panola to a 19-7 overall record and a 6-0 mark in the division.
During Rudd's senior year, South Panola won the Region 2-6A championship and earned a bye in the Mississippi High School Activities Association's (MHSAA) Class 6A fast-pitch softball playoffs.
Rudd carried the Lady Tigers to a semifinals berth in the Class 6A North semifinals during the 2012-13 season.
During her junior year, Rudd led the Lady Tigers to a 22-10 record and another perfect mark in the division while appearing in 30 of 32 games for South Panola.
At the plate, Rudd batted .299 with a .425 on base percentage with 26 hits in 87 at bats.
In the 2011-12 season, Rudd had 108 plate appearances while scoring 25 runs and driving in 18 more.
Rudd collected four doubles and a pair of triples during her junior campaign and was a perfect 12-for-12 on the base paths.
CUTLINE
South Panola High School standout outfielder Marla Rudd signs with the Northeast Mississippi Community College softball program on Wednesday, June 12 during a ceremony held at the Panola County-based school. Joining Rudd at the signing were (front row l-r) Rudd's mother, Carla Rudd, Marla Rudd and grandmother, Janace Lee along with (back row l-r) South Panola assistant softball coach Kristy Wilson, Northeast head softball coach Jody Long and South Panola head softball coach Ashleigh Hicks