SLCC Softball Star Named JUCO All-America Following Stellar Freshman Campaign
Jun 6, 2025, 12:36 PM | Updated: 12:44 pm
SLCC softball freshman second baseman Ellie Pond earned NJCAA second-team All-America recognition following the 2025 season. (Courtesy SLCC Athletics & Breggan Prince)
(Courtesy SLCC Athletics & Breggan Prince)
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah – The step up in competition from high school to junior college didn’t slow down budding softball superstar Ellie Pond as a freshman with Salt Lake Community College.
The former Ridgeline Riverhawk led the Bruins in every major offensive category except triples, pacing a Bruins offense that averaged more than eight runs per game.
Already the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Pond was named to the NJCAA All-America second-team on Thursday, June 5.
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Pond’s excellent eye at the plate allowed her to post a 2:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio, forcing pitchers to challenge her potent bat.
When opponents threw something in the zone, Pond pu. She slashed .480/.602/1.134 while starting 46 of Salt Lake’s 47 games. She led the Bruins in doubles (16), homers (21), RBI (72), hits (61), total bases (144), and steals (28), while providing solid defense up the middle.
“I’m so proud of Ellie,” Bruin head coach Cyndee Bennett said. “She is a phenomenal athlete and deserves all the awards she has received so far. She is going to have a brilliant career, and I’m glad SLCC was the beginning of her college career.”
About Ellie Pond
The Millville, Utah, native played 26 games as a freshman at Ridgeline. Her .375 batting average, seven extra base hits including three homers, and 20 runs driven in were only a preview of things to come.
Pond never hit worse than .447 for the rest of her prep career.
First HR of the season!! @ExtraInningSB @FloSoftball @sballrecruiting @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/SGIDOgw43k
— Ellie Pond (@elliepond15) March 20, 2023
She played 121 games with the Riverhawks, leading the program to three consecutive 4A state titles.
Pond finished her prep career with 33 home runs, 14 triples, 31 doubles, and 138 RBI while batting .464.
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The Bruins went 35-12 this season, finishing with a 20-10 mark in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
