HR0627 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0627 LRB103 39731 ECR 70190 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives wishes to congratulate the Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball Team on winning the 2023 NJCAA Region XXIV championship and establishing a new school record of 49-18; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball Team began the season with a slow start and a 0-4 record, but they were able to turn it around throughout the season, becoming the Region 24 Champions for the first time, becoming the Central District Champions for the first time, becoming an NJCAA World Series Qualifier for the first time, and being ranked seventh in the nation out of 221 D-1 schools; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball Team ranked in the top 20 nationally in ten different TEAM statistical categories, including Games Played with 67, ranking second in the nation, At Bats with 1,805, ranking second in the nation, Hits with 716, ranking second in the nation, Innings Pitched, ranking second in the nation, Pitching Strike Outs with 432, ranking second in the nation, Batting Average of .397, ranking sixth in the nation, Stolen Bases with 156, ranking 13th in the nation, Pitching Strike Outs per seven innings with 7.7, ranking 17th in the nation, Runs Batted In with 446, ranking 17th in the nation, and On Base Percentage of .446, ranking 20th in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball Team athletes have performed just as well in the classroom as they have on the field with a collective GPA of 3.64, qualifying for NJCAA Division 1 Academic American Team recognition; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball Team includes players Maddie Bailey, Megan Bailey, Ashlyn Colvis, Sydnee Garrett, Josie Grunloh, Mikayla Healy, Macy Jett, Macey Lentz, Haley Major, Karlie McKenzie, Kadee Milligan, Amber Russell, Aspen Schmidt, Rancey Skaggs, and Ivy Smart; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball Team coaches include Head Coach John Barnes, Assistant Coach Shawn Garrett, Assistant Coach Joe Healy, and Assistant Coach Franceska Windler; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach John Barnes was awarded the coach of the year for the NJCAA D-I Region 24 and the NJCAA D-I Central District; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball Team on winning the 2023 NJCAA Region XXIV championship and for a successful season and commend them for all their hard work on and off the field; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the each member of the Kaskaskia College softball team and each coach as a symbol of our esteem and respect.