SMCC Baseball, Softball Announce Additional Transfers
PHOENIX ---
The South Mountain Community College baseball and softball programs have announced additional transfers from their 2024 squad to four-year universities to continue their respective intercollegiate athletic careers this fall. Sophomore Vanessa Philpot will stay locally, transferring to Nelson University in Phoenix, while sophomore Aeneas Clark heads to the University of Missouri. Both spent two seasons at SMCC and helped their respective squads claim Region I Championships.
A 5-1 infielder from Mesa, Philpot heads to Nelson University, formerly Southwest Assemblies of God University. The Warriors are an NCCAA program that competes in the Southwest State Intercollegiate Conference. She played in 95 games over SMCC career and helped the Cougars win the 2023 ACCAC and Region I Division II Championships while advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series.
In 2024, Philpot batted .276 with 25 runs, 27 hits, eight doubles, 22 RBIs, 11 walks, and three stolen bases. She went 3 for 4 with two runs, two doubles, two RBIs, and a stolen base at CGCC on April 6 and scored a season-high three runs in another contest against the Coyotes on April 16.
As a freshman in 2023, Philpot appeared in 57 games and batted .296 with 41 runs, 47 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 35 RBIs, 14 walks, and a stolen base. She drove in four runs with a double and a triple in a win at Eastern Arizona and finished with a .933 fielding percentage in 163 chances and was a part of eight double plays.
Clark is a 6-3 right-handed pitcher transferring to the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. The Tigers are an NCAA Division I program that competes in the Southeastern Conference.
Clark appeared in five games and posted eight strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA in five innings as a freshman in 2023, striking out the side in an inning of relief against Phoenix College. He overcame injuries to make one appearance in relief in 2024. He and the Cougars captured the Region I Division I Championship and hosted the District Championships.