Northwest sophomores Caylee Comer (left), Laila Armstrong and Meagan Allen officially signed to their future homes on Wednesday, becoming the first three signees from this year's softball squad.

Softball 04/28/22 09:21 AM Brian Lentz

Northwest Softball Trio Sign to Four-Year Level

SENATOBIA - Wednesday morning was certainly a memorable one for three Northwest softball sophomores.

Outfielder Laila Armstrong, pitcher Meagan Allen and infielder Caylee Comer all signed with their respective future homes in a private ceremony at Howard Coliseum. Armstrong inked her National Letter of Intent with Tennesee State University, while Allen and Comer signed with Henderson State University and Mississippi College, respectively.

Armstrong is one of many Northwest sophomores to cement her legacy in the program record books. The Olive Branch native and Center Hill alumnus has already set the single-season record for stolen bases (36) and needs just one more to surpass Kailey Walker (2016-17) for the career record of 52.

Additionally, Armstrong sports the second-highest batting average on the roster, hitting .435 with a team-leading 57 total hits, including six doubles and three triples. She also becomes the Rangers' first Division I signee since the 2013 season, when Vicki Johnson and Carlie Jenkins signed with Jackson State and Middle Tennessee State, respectively.

After recovering from an injury that sidelined her for half of her freshman season, Allen has bounced back to post an 8-4 record in the circle with 82 strikeouts over 74.2 innings. The Lepanto, Ark. product also has two saves and four complete games, all coming in victories against East Central, Hinds, Meridian and a top five nationally-ranked Jones College squad.

Allen has also been a big help at the plate through conference play, batting .405 in 37 at-bats, with four doubles, three triples, two home runs and seven RBIs. She will become the first Ranger to join the program at Henderson State.

Comer has been a valuable asset at the plate in her two seasons in Senatobia, becoming a mainstay at first base for the duration of her sophomore season and most of her freshman campaign. The Brighton, Tenn. native currently owns a career batting average of .338 with nine home runs, ranking sixth all-time in that category. (Her six home runs in 2021 are also tied for sixth in a single season.)

Comer will become only the second Northwest softball standout to suit up for Mississippi College, joining Heath Griffith (2015-16).

Additionally, all three student-athletes have been consistently honored on the college's President's and Vice President's lists, most recently for the Fall 2021 semester. The trio also landed more academic accolades from the MACCC and NJCAA, with Comer receiving Distinguished Academic All-MACCC honors for the 2020-21 school year.

Northwest (28-10) will close out the regular season on Friday, April 29 at Southwest Mississippi. The Rangers, ranked No. 13 in the latest NJCAA Division II polls, will then focus on the upcoming MACCC Tournament, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 4 in Ellisville.