Armistead, Gardner sign to the next level

Fulton, Miss. – Itawamba Community College sophomores Will Armistead (Mooreville) and Connar Gardner (Southaven) signed to continue their careers Wednesday.

Armistead, a right handed pitcher, signed with the University of Southern Mississippi and Gardner, a catcher and designated hitter, signed with Delta State University.

In 14 appearances, Armistead picked up four wins and had a team-high 67 strikeouts in 69 and one-third innings of work. He finished with a 4.93 earned run average and received All-MACCC Honorable Mention from the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.

During his freshman season that was shortened by the pandemic, Armistead finished with a 3-2 record with 18 strikeouts in 19 and two-thirds innings of work and had a 3.66 earned run average.

Armistead is the first Indian under Head Coach Rick Collier to sign with the Golden Eagles.

Gardner has been a catcher and DH for the Indians for two seasons and will be back for a third this coming spring.

In 2021, Gardner, who played in 32 games, had a .322 batting average, eight doubles and six home runs. He had a .508 on-base percentage, drawing 24 walks and reaching base on a hit by pitch a team-high nine times. 

Gardner's offense production and his defense behind the plate helped the Indians to a 25-15 record and to make a postseason run to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 Tournament. He received All-MACCC Honorable Mention from the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.

In his freshman and COVID-shortened season, Gardner played in 11 games. He had a .294 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage.

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