Time as a Tiger in the future for these in-state preps

Letters of intent are start to come in for the Marshalltown Community College softball program for players to join the team for the 2013 season.

Among the players signed are a five-pack of high school seniors from the state of Iowa.

Twin Cedars outfielder Brooke Dunkin hit .481 in her junior season with a team-high 51 hits and 30 runs scored.

Danville infielder Alexis Farren finished last summer with a .446 batting average to go with 22 RBIs. She also was 5-4 as a pitcher.

Both Dunkin and Farren were honorable mention all-state selections.

Mackenzie Gott, an outfielder/pitcher from Oskaloosa, was the top pitcher for the Indians in 2011, going 13-14 with a 2.66 ERA. She was a .314 hitter.

Columbus Junction catcher/outfielder Kyndal Milder hit a team-leading .437 last season. She also drove in 18 runs and was 27-for-27 in stolen base attempts.

Ottumwa outfielder/pitcher Sarah Wilson had a .300 batting average as a junior.

MCC begins the 2012 season on March 2 at Labette in Parsons, Kan.

The Tigers return a first team all-region outfielder in Dena Martin and a second team all-region catcher in Hally Lenzine to add to a strong incoming class. That has several all-state selections as well as reigning Times-Republican All-Area Player of the Year Molly Underwood. Also back is outfielder Megan Bolten, who has signed with Mount Mercy University.

Getting the pitching and run production will determine MCC’s fortunes in a conference that has a pair of teams in the 2012 NJCAA Division II preseason top 20.

The Tigers know what Martin can do — be a force at the top of the order. She owns MCC program records for triples in a game/season and stolen bases in a game/season.