Former Northwest Shoals Community College standout pitcher Taylor Cameron has been hired as East Mississippi Community College’s assistant softball coach. The announcement was made by EMCC head softball coach Mackenzie Byrd.
A native of Tharptown, Ala., Cameron recorded 267 career strikeouts in 326.1 innings pitched during her two seasons as an original member of Northwest Shoals’ reinstated softball program. In addition to limiting opposing batters to a .246 composite batting average during her career for head coach Angel Brown, Cameron totaled 13 career wins and seven saves. Her 76 career appearances included 46 starts in the circle and 24 complete games.
“I am blessed that Coach Mack (Mackenzie Byrd) has given me this opportunity to fulfill my dream of becoming a college softball coach,” Cameron said. “I’m so excited to be a part of the EMCC softball program. Coach Mack has worked hard for this team, and I can’t wait to work just as hard.”
This past spring as an NWSCC sophomore, Cameron won a career-high seven games with six saves, including a three-hit shutout over Motlow State, along with striking out a career-most 142 batters in 167 innings pitched on the year.
The previous season for the Patriots, she had a team-best 125 strikeouts in 159.1 innings while recording six victories during 26 starts and 17 complete games. Cameron’s freshman season was highlighted by an Alabama Community College Conference Pitcher of the Week nomination after combining for 19 strikeouts during back-to-back starts versus Calhoun.
“I’m very excited to have Taylor as our full-time pitching coach here at EMCC,” Byrd noted. “She was a great pitcher at Northwest Shoals, and she knows the game and how to teach. I believe our pitchers will flourish under her guidance, and I’m eager to see her in action with the players in the spring.”
Off the field at Muscle Shoals-based Northwest Shoals, Cameron was a two-year member of the ACCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Cameron owns previous softball coaching experience at Russellville (Ala.) High School and with the KRAZE travel ball club.
A two-sport athlete at Tharptown (Ala.) High School, Cameron capped her prep career as an honorable mention selection on the 2022 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Softball Team. She also lettered in volleyball for head coach Kamri Fleming’s THS Wildcats.