ITG-SG / September 2016
After experiencing unparalleled success on the diamond for the Valdosta State University Lady Blazers softball team, Courtney Carter, formerly Courtney Albritton, is hoping to accomplish even more as she embarks on a new journey – head softball coach of the Valwood Valiants.
Carter’s name is stamped all over the Division II record books, and it isn’t likely to be erased anytime soon. She established herself as one of the greatest all-around threats in the country from day one for the Blazers, leading the team in nearly every offensive category and posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage as a freshman in 2012 to lead VSU to its first ever National Championship.
Carter finished her career with legendary statistics across the board; her .439 career batting average and 75 total home runs ensure that she will be mentioned among the greatest to ever play the sport at the Division II level.
Her focus now shifts to a different challenge, however, as she returns to her GISA roots to take over the softball program at Valwood School. Carter, who played her high school ball for Tiftarea Academy, garnered GISA All-State honors during each of her four seasons in Chula.
“Softball at the high school level has progressed a lot since I played at Tiftarea,” the former Lady Panthers’ star commented. “I know a lot of teams now are playing during the summer and stuff like that, which is something my team, with the exception of a few girls, never did in high school. So I think the overall level of play will be higher.”
Carter’s quiet, humble demeanor would never reveal the magnitude of success she has had thus far in her softball career, and while she might not experience quite as much winning during her debut season coaching Valwood as she did as a VSU freshman, it would be foolish to bet against someone with her track record.
“It’s definitely been a big transition,” Carter said of her switch from playing to coaching. “The pace and intensity of high school softball isn’t as high as it was when I played at Valdosta State, but it’s nice to be around the sport that I’m not too far removed from. I can still relate with the girls, and it’s nice to see the improvement that they are experiencing. So, in a way, coaching high school is more rewarding.”
Despite breaking seemingly countless records as a college player, Carter will realize her lifelong dream when school starts, but it won’t occur on the diamond.
“I’ve always wanted to be a math teacher,” she said of her after-college goals. “Coaching is something I’ve always been interested in, but it’s just a bonus.”
The hiring of the Valdosta State great will be more than just a bonus for the Valwood softball team, which is already benefitting from instruction from Carter.
“I’m definitely teaching the hitting techniques that I learned at VSU to my players this year,” the Lady Valiants’ first-year coach asserted. “We might not see a lot of power this season, but hopefully we will in the coming years. We have a couple girls who are good power hitters already, so I hope to make them better, and then hopefully I can bring a few others along as well.”
“We also spend a lot of time on throwing instruction,” Carter said of the focus of the team’s practice sessions. “That’s the number one error in softball, so we’re trying to prevent it as much as possible. We try to get a lot of reps in, whether it be ground balls or fly balls.”
Team chemistry and continuity isn’t something Carter should have to spend her early days as coach worrying about, however, as a large majority of the Lady Valiants team is returning in 2016 after making a GISA State Playoff appearance a season ago.
“We have our whole team returning this season except for one player, who played shortstop and pitched last season and who now is playing at Georgia Southern,” Carter said of Meredith McLendon, the only player Valwood lost at the conclusion of last season. “While that is a big loss, this season we have two new girls coming in who both pitch, so that will be a big help. Last year I know the team got to the first round of state, so our goal is to make it a step further than that this season.”
It is expected that the Lady Valiants will benefit from having a head coach that is not only accomplished in the sport, but also a coach who is young and enthusiastic enough to relate to her players. Athletics is and always will be about winning, but when boiled down to the core, especially at the high school level, the focus should be on developing talent and having fun. That is exactly what Carter plans to do during her first season.
“My expectation is to see each player grow,” the first-year Valwood coach said of her expectations of the team. “I know three of our JV players have never played before, so they’ve already made big improvements this offseason. Seeing those improvements is really rewarding.”
By all accounts, this should be a grand slam hire for not only the Valwood School softball program, but also the greater Valdosta community, as Carter, a staple of the sport on more than just a local level, will help high school softball reach new heights.
In the minds of those who know her, there is little doubt that Carter, after dominating high school and college softball, will experience as much success coaching as she did as a player. She attributes her achievements thus far, both on and off of the field, to her parents.
“If I pick something that I want to do, they’ve always helped me succeed in it and have helped me practice,” Carter said when asked about what motivates her. “They’ve put a lot of time into me, so I work extra hard to show that their work in me paid off.”
As softball season arrives, Carter is still welcoming players to come and join her team.
“If anyone who reads this is interested in coming to Valwood to play softball, please don’t hesitate to let me know,” Carter said.
The Lady Valiants opened their season on Aug. 10 at Lanier County and will play a 14-game regular-season slate.
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