Scottsboro standout McNeece excited about softball future at NACC
Story by Jason Bowen
Austin McNeece has been a big part of Scottsboro’s softball success during her high school career.
The SHS senior wants to do the same starting next season at Northeast Alabama Community College.
McNeece signed to play collegiately at NACC during a signing ceremony recently at Scottsboro High School.
But long before she put pen to paper, McNeece said she felt like she was “a Northeast Mustang before I was a Northeast Mustang.”
McNeece and Scottsboro teammate Morgan Perkins were part of NACC’s second softball recruiting class. The Mustangs are currently in their first season of competition just months after opening a state-of-the-art college softball stadium and indoor practice facility.
McNeece said NACC’s “top of the line” facilities show the college’s commitment to the sport as well as the coaching staff and team it has assembled.
“They’re building a really good program and I wanted to be up there while they’re building it,” said McNeece, who committed to the Mustangs last April. “That’s where I wanted to be. (NACC head) coach (Joe) Guthrie made me feel like I was part of the family before I even committed. He offered me and I was like, ‘that’s going to be my future home and I’m going to go up there and I’m going to shine.’ The way the coaches treat you, and the girls, they made me feel like I was on the team already when I’m still in high school.”
Scottsboro softball coach Jeff Campbell said McNeece is a determined softball player that loves the game.
“You know what you’re going to get from Austin,” Campbell said. “She’s going to play hard, going to hit the ball hard every time. She’s got a great work ethic, plays great defense. She’s going to be successful. She’s a really good kid and I’ve enjoyed coaching her.”
McNeece, a six-year varsity player and a 2024 Class 5A ASWA second-team all-state selection, is currently batting .578 (26-for-45) this season with eight doubles, four triples, three home runs, four walks, 15 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
McNeece batted .471 (56-of-119) and had an on-base percentage of .556 while totaling 11 doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 45 RBIs and 42 runs last season, and she has a .356 career batting average with 167 career hits, 33 career doubles, 17 career triples, 13 career home runs and 116 career RBIs in 182 career games.
McNeece has helped Scottsboro win four area tournament championship during her career and post a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Class 5A State Tournament.
McNeece said her individual goal is to hit .500 this season along with the “usual things a senior would want” to close their high school career.
“As a team, I want us to go to state,” she said. “I definitely want to make this the best season yet.”
While McNeece said she’s enjoying her senior season of high school softball, she can help but be excited about soon her fulfilling a long-time goal of playing at the collegiate level.
“It’s everything I’ve dreamed of — I’ve wanted to play college softball since I was 12. I can’t wait,” she said. “It just means so much to me.”
