The Ware County Lady Gators softball team hopes to repeat the success of last season and make another deep playoff run in 2017. The team enjoyed a successful 2016 season, making it all the way to the Elite Eight in Columbus. Coach Rebecca Kirkland’s team finished 18-13 last year, but took the No. 3 seed from Region 2-AAAAA into the state playoffs. They swept Locust Grove on the road and then Flowery Branch in Waycross to advance to the State AAAAA Fast Pitch Softball Tournament.
This year’s squad will be young with the loss of five seniors from last year, including Region 2-AAAAA Player of the Year Lizzie Shubert.
“This definitely makes an impact, but we have been working hard to try to fill the spots,” Kirkland said.
Also gone are three other All-Region players. Returning is junior pitcher Valerie Ortiz, who was also All-Region performer last year in the circle. Senior second baseman Bailey Stephens returns along with juniors Chyna Carter at first base and Latreona Holmes. Returning sophomores include catcher Lauren Smallwood; Sierra Taylor; D’Yonne McClain, who played outfield last year; and Cullee Peavey, who also pitched last year. Adrian Harris will be a returning varsity player as well, playing some infield and pitching.
“With the success we had last year, I love the fact that our young girls who were on varsity last year had the opportunity to see just what it takes to go deep in the playoffs,” Kirkland said. “We won’t be real deep in positions, but the talent is there.”
The Lady Gators will have a tough schedule in 2017 playing a non-region slate with games against Lowndes, Tift, and Lee County as well as the Georgia Dugout Classic Tournament in Atlanta. Then there is the always difficult Region 2-AAAAA, which features powerhouses Wayne County and South Effingham along with Statesboro and New Hampstead of Savannah.
“As far as our region, as it is each year it is extremely competitive,” Kirkland said. “Wayne and South Effingham are two very tough teams to get past. Also, Statesboro will be tough as they have improved tremendously the past few years.”
As the season got underway, the Lady Gators started to come together and play well. Kirkland is pleased with the progress the team has made but said there is more to be done as the 2017 season progresses.
“We have a lot of work to do to get where we need be this season, but I have a group that is willing to work,” Kirkland said. “We will take one game at a time, one inning at a time, one out at a time, and one strike at a time.”
2017 Ware County Girls Softball Schedule
8/10 vs. Tift County (Double Header)
8/14 vs. Lowndes County
8/17 vs. New Hampstead
8/18 Georgia Dugout Classic Tournament @ Atlanta
8/19 Georgia Dugout Classic Tournament @ Atlanta
8/22 @ Camden County
8/24 @ Wayne County
8/29 @ Statesboro
8/31 vs. South Effingham
9/5 vs. Appling County (Cancer Awareness Game)
9/7 @ New Hampstead
9/11 @ Coffee County (Double Header)
9/12 @ Lowndes County
9/14 vs. Wayne County
9/19 vs. Statesboro (Senior Night)
9/21 @ South Effingham
9/23 vs. Lee County (Double Header)
The Gators football team is off to a fast start. While Friday nights have the spotlight on the varsity football team, Thursday afternoons belong to the junior varsity and ninth-grade teams. Here are their schedules for 2017:
2017 Junior Varsity Football Schedule
8/11 Scrimmage vs. Camden County
8/31 @ Coffee County
9/7 @ Pierce County
9/14 vs. Tift County
9/21 vs. Benedictine
9/28 @ Valdosta
10/5 vs. Camden County
10/19 vs. Glynn Academy
2017 9th-Grade Football Schedule
8/11 vs. Camden County
8/24 @ Charlton County
8/31 vs. Coffee County
9/7 vs. MCA
9/14 @ Tift County
10/5 @ Camden County
10/12 vs. Charlton County
10/19 @ Glynn Academy
By Rob Asbell
