Pitching the Players: A Panthers Softball Profile

By Carlie Abbott, Editor

Most community colleges across the nation do not have a sophisticated athletics program; for most institutions, physical education is about all they offer their students. Pellissippi State Community College saw that gap and set out to fill it. Pellissippi State’s Athletic Department was founded in 2023, and since then, the program has welcomed Pellissippi Panther athletes from all different walks of life, providing a space where community college students could continue to advance their education, while also advancing their athletic career. Ranging from golf, to soccer, to fishing, and more, Pellissippi State has a space for you! 

Softball would be added to this range in the fall of 2024, under head coach Meridith Smith. Imaginary Gardens reached out through email to the team’s current roster, and three players responded to the questionnaire sent. From speaking about their experiences before and after joining the team, as well as how they plan on expanding their futures after Pellissippi State, these players are pillars of Pellissippi State athletics and paragons of determination and school spirit. 

Ashton Chamblee, #22, Pitcher. 

Ashton Chamblee has been playing softball since she was six years old. She explained to Imaginary Gardens that she began her softball journey playing for a recreational team out of Clinton, Tennessee, called the Glitter Hitters, which later became a travel softball team called the Fillies. 

Throughout middle and high school, Chamblee would play for many schools; in seventh and eighth grade, she played for Christian Academy of Knoxville, then moved on to Knoxville Catholic High School, and later Coalfield High School in Coalfield, Tennessee, where she would finish her high school softball career. 

While not originally planning on continuing her softball career past high school, Chamblee was recruited by coach Smith, which Chamblee described to Imaginary Gardens as “not a regular recruitment.” 

“I wasn’t going to play College softball until Meridith texted me on Field Level during the summer. I came and toured the school and loved it. I would highly recommend other students to join the softball team or any other athletic team at Pellissippi State because you get to meet new people, travel to new places, and experience college life from a whole different standpoint.”

Chamblee expressed in an email interview that her experience with Pellissippi State Softball has been meaningful in so many ways, but most importantly in the encouragement she has received from both the team and the coaching staff. 

She said, “Everyone wants you to succeed and do your best.”

When asked about her specific experience being a student-athlete at Pellissippi State, Chamblee described the confidence boost, strong connections, and new mentality she gained from collegiate softball. 

“I have gotten so much stronger mentally and physically. I have made so many new friends who have helped me get through so many ups and downs this year. Being a student-athlete has had a positive impact on me because I have changed in so many ways. I have become a strong and confident person.” 

Starting from a very early age, Chamblee has always had a strong passion for softball. After she began pitching at eight years old, she knew that this was the sport for her. She credits coach Smith for believing in her and allowing her to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a collegiate softball pitcher. For this opportunity, Chamblee stated that she will forever be grateful to her team and their coaches.

Savannah McDowel, #4, Catcher. 

Savannah McDowel started her softball career at just six years old, playing T-Ball, making her way up the ladder until the age of 15, when she decided to try a new sport, wrestling. McDowel eventually made her way back to her softball roots at the age of 17, playing for Kearney High School and Intensity Athletics, both out of Kearney, Missouri. 

When asked about a memorable or meaningful part of her time playing for Pellissippi State Athletics, she told Imaginary Gardens about a game that was very special to her, 

“So, as it was known last year was a rough year in the winning column, so going into this set of games against Walter [State] was no different. Except, we were able to rally behind our one sophomore that we were celebrating that day, so in the end, we ended up splitting with one of the hardest competitions that we had that year. It was really demonstrating that we are truly in it for each other and have each other to play for.” 

McDowel discussed her recruitment experience, which, like other Pellipissi Panthers, did not follow a traditional path; McDowel had been recruited by a small school in Iowa to wrestle when a coach from her past reached out, asking if she was interested in playing collegiate softball instead. 

“I hesitantly said yes, in which I committed to playing at her school in Kansas, but she ended up transferring here to Knoxville, and I chose to follow her [to Pellissippi State].” 

When asked if this is a program that she would recommend to others, McDowel said, 

“Yes, I would. We are still in the building stages, and that is what makes it fun. You are able to say that you built a program, alongside learning valuable lessons that will help you later on.”

McDowel shared with Imaginary Gardens that her experience as a student-athlete at Pellissippi State has been positive, not only being able to continue her dreams, but also being able to continue her education. While playing for Pellissippi State, McDowel has gained skills outside of just softball; since she moved states in order to play, she has experienced a new version of independence by living on her own. It has also grown her time management skills and her ability to create a healthy work-life balance. 

McDowel is a biology major, a Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) officer, and is committed to continuing her softball career at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.  McDowel and the rest of the softball team show the true variety of Pellissippi State Panthers, proving that programs like this create successful students, long after their time as student-athletes at Pellissippi State. 

Jordyn Mays, #7, Pitcher.

Jordyn Mays’ softball career started around 7 years old, after wanting to try something different than the sports she had been playing. She got into the sport because of her father, who taught her how to play and fostered her love for the game by coaching her travel softball team during her childhood. Mays continued her softball career throughout high school, playing for Norman High School and a team called Ultimate, both in Norman, Oklahoma. 

When discussing her recruitment, she shared that she had committed to play for coach Smith at the coach’s previous college, who asked if Mays would follow her to Pellissippi State. Mays agreed, since she and Smith had formed a strong connection, that being a strong reason she committed to play for the previous school. 

Mays told Imaginary Gardens about her most memorable experiences while playing at Pellissippi State, 

“The most memorable thing that happened while I was at Pelli was when we beat Walter State last year with the inaugural team. Another would be when I pitched the program’s first win when we were in Georgia, which had made my year because I was so proud of myself and the team.

Lastly, I loved doing our team bonding activities, which were camping, river rafting, and canoeing together. I had also pitched the program’s first win when we were in Georgia, which had made my year because I was so proud of myself and the team.” 

However, being a student-athlete does not come without certain struggles. Mays shared that there are tough aspects of being a student-athlete, especially when it comes to time management, but she would say her overall experience with Pellissippi State was for the better. 

“It has been tough being a student-athlete just because of the number of things I typically do. I spend a lot of time doing homework, and we play a lot of games, so sometimes that makes things challenging. The professors are really understanding, so if I have to miss class, I can email them and they let me know what I need to do to stay caught up, or they give me an extra day to take an exam. Overall, my experience has been pretty positive as a student-athlete.”

In such a short time, Pellissippi State’s softball program has already begun to shape not only athletes, but confident, driven individuals. Through different paths and challenges, Ashton Chamblee, Savannah McDowel, and Jordyn Mays, along with other Pellissippi State student-athletes, have each found a place within a team that values growth, resilience, and connection. As the program continues to develop, it’s clear that its impact extends far beyond the field, building a foundation of experiences and opportunities that these players will carry with them long after their time at Pellissippi State.