WHEREAS, for the first time in program history, the Patrick & Henry Community College women's softball team advanced to the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women's Softball World Series and won the national championship by defeating North Dakota State College of Science 6�4 on May 25, 2024; and

WHEREAS, each of the players and coaches for the Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) Lady Patriots (Lady Pats), including Laila Rodriguez, Sydney Foster, Greenly Elliott, Bailey Daeke, Emma Cude, Tatumn Brim, Madison Sipe, Makalah Wiggins, Kayle Nichols, Morgan Strickland, MacKenzie Adkins, Kyndal Hopkins, Destiny Talbott, Jaci Parham, Alexis Knight, Rachael Gooch, Emily Gilley, Breanna Foster, assistant coach Josh Gooch, and head coach Robbi Campbell, made a host of contributions throughout the regular season and the national tournament; and

WHEREAS, after winning the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III regional and district titles, the P&HCC Lady Pats entered the national tournament as a number two seed and defeated talented teams from Herkimer College, SUNY Corning Community College, and North Dakota State College of Science; and

WHEREAS, in the first round matchup against the Herkimer College Generals, freshman Makalah Wiggins opened the World Series with a two-run home run in the second inning; and

WHEREAS, freshman Laila Rodriguez followed with three runs of her own in the second-round win against the SUNY Corning Community College Red Barons, registering a game-high three stolen bases, a category in which she also led the nation in the regular season; and

WHEREAS, in the semifinals win over the defending champion North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Wildcats, sophomore Kyndal Hopkins sent the game to extra innings with a home run in the sixth inning, and Makalah Wiggins homered in the eighth inning, securing the P&HCC Lady Pats a spot in the championship; and

WHEREAS, in the first of two NJCAA Division III Softball World Series championship games, the P&HCC Lady Pats were defeated by the NDSCS Wildcats, but the Lady Pats rebounded to defeat their opponents in the second game, winning the 2024 national championship; and

WHEREAS, in the extra-inning championship game, sophomore Bailey Daeke hit a double in the 10th inning to score the go-ahead run; and

WHEREAS, this run was enough for the 2024 NJCAA Division III Softball National Player of the Year, sophomore Morgan Strickland, to secure the championship for the P&HCC Lady Pats by striking out the final batter on pitch number 130; Strickland pitched all 10 innings of the championship game, striking out five batters in total, earning her Pitcher of the Tournament honors after she pitched 38.2 out of a total of 39 innings for the P&HCC Lady Pats in the tournament; and

WHEREAS, Laila Rodriguez was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after sporting a .500 batting average, seven stolen bases, and exceptional play in the field; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 NJCAA Division III Softball National Coach of the Year, P&HCC women's softball head coach Robbi Campbell, was named the Coach of the Tournament after leading the P&HCC Lady Pats to their first title in program history; and

WHEREAS, Morgan Strickland, freshman Rachael Gooch, and Laila Rodriguez were all named to the 2024 NJCAA Division III Softball All-America team; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 NJCAA Division III national championship season was a testament to the skill and dedication of all the student-athletes, the leadership and guidance of coaches and staff, and the passionate support of friends, family members, faculty, and fans of the P&HCC Lady Pats throughout the Commonwealth and across the nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Patrick & Henry Community College women's softball team hereby be commended for advancing to and winning the national championship of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women's Softball World Series in 2024; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Robbi Campbell, head coach of the Patrick & Henry Community College women's softball team, and Brian Henderson, assistant vice-president of student engagement and athletic director at Patrick & Henry Community College, as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the team's historic achievements.