OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College softball team will start the 2022 season as a top-20 ranked program. The Lady Cavaliers were picked 12^th in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll released on Monday. 

Nine-time national champion Phoenix College holds the top spot followed by Jones College, Louisburg College, Des Moines Area Community College and Itawamba Community College. four other Kansas Jayhawk Conference opponents appeared in the preseason poll this season. Labette Community College is seventh, Kansas City Kansas Community College is 11^th, Highland Community College is 14^th and Neosho County Community College came in 18^th. Cowley College was not among the top 20 but did receive votes.

The Lady Cavaliers have been in the preseason national rankings in nine of 11 seasons under the direction of head coach Aubree Brattin-Volkens. This is the 26^th time since 1996 the program has been ranked before the season started.

Last season Johnson County finished 27-15 and were ranked 12^th in the final NJCAA poll. 

Brattin-Volkens returns 11 players from last season, headlined by All-American Kaylin Watkins. Also back are all-region and all-conference performers Katie Enneking and Emma Martin.

Watkins finished the season batting .455 (53-for-119) with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, 28 runs scored and 50 driven in, all which led the team. She also led the team with 18 multiple-hit games and 16 multiple-RBI games. Her 15 homers tied the third-most for a season in team history and ranked 25^th in the NJCAA. Her 16 multi-RBI games tied the season record at JCCC. She also made 15 appearances in the circle, finishing 6-4 with 54 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.32. Following the season, Waktins earned first-team all-conference and all-region and was named All-American by both the NJCAA and National Fastpitch Coaches Association. 

Enneking batted .352 (38-for-108) with five doubles, a team high four triples, four home runs, 36 runs and 33 RBI. She had 13 multiple-hit games and 10 multiple-RBI games. 

Martin batted .319 (23-for-75) with seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, 17 runs scored and 16 driven in. She produced five multiple-hit games and four multiple-RBI games.

Brattin-Volkens said expectations are higher than ever this year after their season ended early last year.

"Any year we do not make it the National Tournament is a big hit for us and our girls in recruitment and in the flow into an off season and new fall season," Brattin-Volkens said. "Last year proved to us all we can't reach our goals on talent alone. Our talent is even greater this season, but the focus is more on having the correct mindset, the correct chemistry and creating an environment of unselfish play, all of which we lacked last year. This group has put in a ton of work already in all areas, and we expect to see that make a difference in our run to get back to the tournament in 2022. We are deep in many positions and have a balanced hitting lineup that matches well with a solid defense."

Johnson County will open its 2022 season on Monday, February 21 at home against MidAmerica Nazarene.