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Meridian Community College

Grinstead Named MACCC Coach of the Year; Four Eagles Earn All-Conference Honors

Grinstead Named MACCC Coach of the Year; Four Eagles Earn All-Conference Honors
May 14, 2026

MERIDIAN, Miss. — Following a historic 2025-26 season, the Meridian Community College softball program earned major recognition from the MACCC on Wednesday as four Eagles received all-conference honors while Head Coach Brad Grinstead was named MACCC Coach of the Year.

The honors come after MCC finished the season 31-23 overall and 17-11 in conference play, earning the program's first postseason appearance in more than 20 years. During the season, Grinstead also secured his 100th career victory in the MACCC.

Leading the all-conference selections was freshman standout Alex Layfield, who earned:

  • First Team All-MACCC

The Springville, Alabama native finished an outstanding freshman campaign batting .375 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Sophomore Allie Loftin was named:

  • Second Team All-MACCC

Loftin, a Brandon, Mississippi native, caught fire late in the season and finished the year batting .323 with six home runs and 30 RBIs.

Sophomores Mollie Mitchell and Presley Black each earned:

  • All-MACCC Honorable Mention

Mitchell, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, powered the Eagles offensively throughout the season, batting .294 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs.

Black, a Richton, Mississippi native, hit .364 while adding 15 RBIs and 20 stolen bases during the season.

Mitchell and Black were both third-year players who helped lay the foundation for the resurgence of MCC softball and played a major role in returning the program to postseason play.

Coach Grinstead praised his players for the recognition and reflected on the growth of the program over the past several seasons.

"It's great to see these players receive recognition for the hard work they've put in," Grinstead said. "This program has come a long way, and the future is very bright for MCC softball."

With the state-of-the-art Citizens National Bank Sports Complex and Tommy McDonald Field preparing to enter its third season, the Eagles continue building momentum both on and off the field.

"It's a great time to be an Eagle," Grinstead added.

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