Lady Tiger softball lands a pair of Ark City recruits

The Cowley College softball team did not have to look far in adding a pair of talented players to their recruiting class as they signed Arkansas City High School seniors Ali Nittler and Sarah Hocker to letters of intent Wednesday in the school’s Hall of Fame Room.

Both Nittler and Hocker were named first-team All-State and first-team All-League performers as juniors at Ark City High School as they helped the Lady Bulldogs to back-to-back state championships.

“You like to get players that are accustomed to winning into your program and you can’t win much more than they have at Ark City High School,” Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove said. “They were both key players on the state championship teams.”

Nittler will pitch for Ark City High School this season after having played third base as a junior and shortstop as a freshman and sophomore. At Cowley, she will battle for playing time at third base.

Nittler is very familiar with the Cowley program as Hargrove is her uncle. Nittler’s sister, Lindsey Davis, played at Cowley during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, and her mother, Deb, was a long time volleyball coach and assistant athletic director at the school. Deb is currently serving as an instructor in the Social Science Department.

“I knew if I would play softball in college it would be at Cowley so I could play for Ed, just like my sister did,” Nittler said. “I’m glad he stuck around long enough for me to play for him.”

Hocker is a centerfielder for Ark City High School and will be in the hunt for a starting spot in the outfield for the Lady Tigers.

“I’m really excited because I have been watching Cowley play softball since Ali and I were really little,” Hocker said. “I’m glad to be playing after high school.”

Nittler and Hocker will be reunited with former ACHS teammates Jacey Juden and Kashilia Young at Cowley.

“I’m excited to get to play with Jacey and Kashilia again, it’s like an Ark City reunion,” Nittler said.

Cowley has had success in the past playing with players from Ark City. The 2001 squad, which qualified for the national tournament, had five players from Ark City on the roster.
“We could conceivably have four Ark City players in our starting line up next season,” Hargrove said. “The familiarity those four have with each other will be a big plus.”