JUCO 2018 Sophomore Hot 100 Rankings: Players 31-40

JUCO 2018 Sophomore Hot 100 Rankings: Players 31-40

From Mesa, AZ, to Midland, Texas, here are the top JUCO sophomores, ranked Nos. 31 to 40.

Apr 24, 2018 by Chez Sievers
JUCO 2018 Sophomore Hot 100 Rankings: Players 31-40
After contacting every junior college coach in the nation, conducting extensive research, and measuring the top junior college programs, we are very happy to recognize the first JUCO Hot 100.

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After contacting every junior college coach in the nation, conducting extensive research, and measuring the top junior college programs, we are very happy to recognize the first JUCO Hot 100.

Many of these sophomores will go on to play at four-year universities and will likely be key contributors for high- or mid-major programs in 2019. Strong and competitive at their respective positions, these talented athletes hailed from all over the country.


40 | Ivy Amador, UTL | Murray State (Southeastern Oklahoma)

Named a 2017 NJCAA Second-Team All-American, Amador has led Murray State to two 30-win seasons and has been pivotal to the Aggies' success, including their first top 20 nod. Listed third in DII in RBIs (61), Amador also holds a .513 batting average with 10 home runs, and 22 stolen bases. One of the toughest players to strike out in all of NJCAA, Amador has only struck out five times in 154 at-bats. 

39 | Alexis Egan, OF  | Iowa Central

In 2017, the pure lefty NFCA All-American took home the NFCA Golden Spike Award, given to the top base stealer in the country, after swiping 73 bases. On pace to break the stolen bases record, Egan leads the NJCAA DII stolen bases (67) and is leading the Tritons with a .455 average. 

38 | Zoe Hicks, UTL | Iowa Western (Buffalo)

Another lefty bat, Hicks hails from the Canadian junior national team member and is having a stellar sophomore campaign. Last year, she garnered second-team all-region honors as a utility player. Hicks is currently on the cusp of hitting .500 with just four strikeouts in 156 plate appearances while racking up 23 doubles, six home runs, 68 RBIs, and 65 runs scored. She is also 15-4 on the mound for the 15th-ranked Reivers (42-8).

37 | Sydney Gutierrez, IF | Blinn College

The transfer from the University of Georgia has found a home with the Bucs and longtime coach Rick Church. Gutierrez currently leads Region 14 with a .474 batting average and 42 RBIs. She is also second on the team in home runs (nine). Blinn holds a long legacy of not only moving players on to the next level but also competing at the national tournament. Will Gutierrez continue that trend?

36 | Kaitlyn Dennis, IF  | Phoenix College

Dennis quickly emerged as one of the top hitters in Arizona Community College Athletic Conference and now she is doing the same at the national level. The former UMASS infielder transferred to Phoenix College and is among the national Division II leaders in home runs (18) and RBIs (63) for the nine-time national champions. ACCAC Hall of Famer and Phoenix College head coach Heinz Mueller has a knack for taking in top four-year transfers and moving them on to the next level. 

35 | Allie Stines, C/OF | College of San Mateo

Stines lists a number of accolades from her 2017 campaign, including first-team all-conference, all-state, all-state tournament team, and NFCA All-American honors. Altogether, she hit .459 with 30 extra base hits and 52 runs scored as a freshman. On the same path for excellence this season, Stines’ 41 runs scored leads the team. Stines has zero strikeouts in over 123 at-bats for top-ranked San Mateo (34-4). 

34 | Ryann Holmes, IF | Mesa

Holmes is a dynamite lefty who continuously puts up impressive numbers against top competition. She transferred from conference foe Phoenix College and was a 2017 NJCAA All-Region honoree. Holmes leads the ACCAC in batting average (.542) while leading Mesa with 10 triples, seven home runs, and 53 RBIs. 

33 | Kristen Prieto, IF | Seminole State

Prieto garnered second-team NJCAA All-American honors in 2017 after finishing the year with a .433 batting average, 23 doubles, 14 home runs, and 56 RBIs. There's no doubt that she is an impressive hitter, but Prieto is equally impressive on defense with only four errors to her name in 192 chances at shortstop. The Trojans are 40-3 with a 27- 0 record in the conference and are ranked 10th nationally heading into the postseason. 

32 | Crystine Kistner, P | Midland (Angelo State)

The top returning strikeout pitcher in NJCAA DI a year ago (242 Ks) is back after being named to the third-team NFCA All-American squad. Kistner is leading way with 309 strikeouts on the year so far. Tallying 551 strikeouts in two years at Midland, she holds a 1.56 ERA and 10.74 strikeouts per game. 

31 | Monika Bevins, C | Kirkwood CC

During her freshman season, Bevans hit .365 with 10 jacks and 72 RBIs for the Eagles, who finished 55-6 after reaching the NJCAA World Series. The general behind the dish helped Kirkwood to a 38-6 record, with only one error and nine attempts to test her arm all year. Bevins improved her stats sophomore year, hitting .483 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs. Ranked No. 3 in NJCAA DII, the Eagles are routinely one of the top two-year schools on any level in the country that produces an influx of DI players. Without a doubt, Bevins will be next in line.