SMCC Softball Announces Several Four-Year Transfers
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The South Mountain Community College softball program and head coach Kelley Montalvo announced several of the Cougars' four-year transfers from the 2024 season. Iliana Munoz (UTEP), Mia Franco (La Sierra University), Mekaila Smith (La Sierra University), Mykenzie Flores (Montreat College), Angelica Tello (Cottey College), and Rebecca Miller (Barry University) were all instrumental in helping SMCC reach new heights during their two seasons, including a 2023 ACCAC title and a berth in the 2023 NJCAA Division II World Series.
Munoz will transfer to the University of Texas-El Paso. The Miners are an NCAA Division I program that competes in Conference USA. She will reunite with former SMCC head coach Brittney Matta, the associate head coach at UTEP.
A prolific hitter, Munoz earned 2024 Second Team All-ACCAC and All-Region I Division II honors after a stellar 2024 season. She batted 483 with 54 runs, 70 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, 24 walks, and two stolen bases, and sported a .553 on-base and a .972 slugging percentage. She led the ACCAC in home runs and slugging percentage, was second in OBP, ranked third in batting average, and was fourth in hits and RBIs.
In 2023, Munoz batted .443 with 76 runs, 90 hits, 21 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 63 RBIs, 12 walks, and six stolen bases. She went 8-for-15 (.533) with six runs, three doubles, three home runs, and seven RBIs in four games at the DII World Series and earned All-World Series Team honors.
Franco will transfer to La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif. The Golden Eagles are an NAIA program that competes in the California Pacific Conference.
She appeared in 41 games as a sophomore and batted .286 with 32 runs, 32 hits, 11 doubles, three home runs, 28 RBIs, 11 walks, and four stolen bases. She had a season-high three hits four times, and had two doubles and a season-high four RBIs against Eastern Arizona on Mar. 26. Franco homered against Scottsdale CC, Phoenix College, and Eastern Arizona.
In 2023, Franco played in 61 games for SMCC and batted .316 with 49 runs, 61 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 48 RBIs, 17 walks and two stolen bases. She homered against Southern Nevada, Gateway CC, Phoenix College, Chandler-Gilbert CC, and Paradise Valley CC and had five games with a season-high three RBIs.
Smith will also transfer to La Sierra University. The Golden Eagles are an NAIA program that competes in the California Pacific Conference.
Smith had a stellar sophomore season for SMCC and batted .430 with 15 runs, 34 hits, eight doubles, one home run, 20 RBIs, and seven walks. She went 4 for 4 with three runs, a home run, and three RBIs against Yavapai College on Mar. 16 and had two games with three hits. Smith later collected two doubles and an RBI in a win at GCC on Apr. 30 and finished the year with four games with two RBIs.
In 2023, Smith appeared in 10 games and finished with six runs, two hits, a home run, five RBIs, and four walks. She homered and posted a season-high two RBIs in a home win over Yavapai College.
Flores will transfer to Montreat College in Montreat, N.C. The Cavaliers are an NAIA program that competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.
Flores appeared in 20 games and made 11 starts as a sophomore in 2024. She finished 10-3 with 39 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA in 66 innings of work. She picked up wins over Paradise Valley CC twice, Lake Region State College twice, Arizona Christian University, Glendale CC, Mesa CC, and Chandler-Gilbert CC twice. Flores fanned a season-high nine against Lake Region State College on Mar. 6 and had five K's in four innings to earn a win over CGCC in a Region I Division II Tournament elimination game.
In 2023, Flores finished 9-3 with two saves, 50 strikeouts, and a 4.71 ERA in 81.2 innings of work. She posted wins over Mesa CC, Gateway CC twice, Paradise Valley CC, Chandler-Gilbert CC twice, Dakota County Technical College, Phoenix College and Glendale CC.
Tello will transfer to Cottey College in Nevada, Mo. The Comets are an NAIA program that competes in the American Midwest Conference.
As a sophomore in 2024, Tello appeared in 20 games and made 18 starts. She went 6-9 with a save, 53 strikeouts, and a 4.82 ERA in 101.2 innings. Tello posted wins over Scottsdale CC twice, Glendale CC, Paradise Valley CC, Chandler-Gilbert CC, and Gateway CC, and had a season-high eight strikeouts against SCC on Apr. 23.
In 2023, Tello finished 17-2 with two saves, 95 strikeouts, and a 4.16 ERA in 124.2 innings of work. She posted wins over Southern Idaho, Phoenix College, Glendale CC twice, Central Arizona twice, Yavapai College twice, Paradise Valley CC twice, Arizona Western, Lake Region State College, Scottsdale CC, Mesa CC, Chandler-Gilbert CC, Eastern Arizona, and Pima CC. Tello posted a season-high 10 strikeouts in a home win over Yavapai College.
Miller will transfer to Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. The Bucs are an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Sunshine State Conference.
Miller spent two seasons at SMCC, one as a player and one as a team manager. She earned 2023 Second Team All-ACCAC and All-Region I Division II honors after she appeared in 28 games and batted .402 with 27 runs, 35 hits, four doubles, two triples, four home runs, 22 RBIs and 11 walks. As the team's catcher, Miller recorded a .992 fielding percentage in 124 chances, finishing with 10 assists and catching two runners stealing.
Injuries cut that season short, and she returned to the squad in 2024 as a team manager while she rehabbed to return to the diamond.