Katie Gentle poses for a photo with the NJCA championship trophy. | Wallace State Athletics

Hartselle’s Katie Gentle, who earned All-American NSCA and NJCA softball honors at Wallace State Community College, is headed to Mississippi State University on a softball scholarship.

She was recruited as an outfielder and will enroll at MSU later this month as a junior transfer. One of her high school teammates, shortstop Olivia Golden, is a redshirt freshman there.

Gentle signed an athletic scholarship with UNA late last year but requested and received a release after the coach left. She attracted interest from Division I schools after having an outstanding sophomore season at WSCC.

She said the highlight of her career at WSCC was helping the Lady Lions win a national NJCS championship and being selected for an All-American.

“I’ve really excited about moving up to a Division I school,” she said, “and I’m looking forward to getting to play on the same team with Olivia (Golden) again.

“I got much stronger in the mental aspect of the game last season,” Gentle said, “and I think that helped improve my hitting and fielding and get some looks from Division I coaches.”

She said she plans to major in education physiology and hopes to teach physical education and coach softball in the future.