OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County Community College sophomore softball player Sammi Bates has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America first-team for the second year in a row.  She joins former third baseman Kristen Doffing as the only two-time first-team All-Americans in team history. 

Bates put together another amazing season at the plate. She led the Jayhawk Conference and ranked seventh in the NJCAA with a batting average of .527 (77-for-146). In addition to her 77 hits, she led the team with 70 runs, 13 doubles, 26 stolen bases, 28 base-on-balls, 25 multiple-hit games and tied for the team high with three triples.  She also had two homers and 29 RBI. Her 70 runs scored are the third most in team history. 

During the season, she put together a 26-game hitting streak, which tied the fourth longest in team history. She also managed to get a hit in 44 of JCCC's 47 games. She closes out her career as one of only two players to finish their career with a batting average over. 500 (.526). She also ranks among the all-time career leaders in hits (140-16^th), multi-hit games (44-T-3^rd), doubles (23-T-21^st), triples (10-T-7^th), walks (52-T-1^st), runs (114-4^th) and stolen bases (44-T-9^th).