ITG-SEGA / September 2016
The Lady Gators softball team of coach Rebecca Kirkland is geared up for another playoff run in 2016. Last season, the Gators were the number two seed from Region 3-AAAAA by virtue of a one-run loss in the region championship. As the number two seed, they hosted a playoff series against Jones County but fell in three games. “Last season started out pretty rough for us,” Kirkland said. “We had so much talent, but felt that we were being defeated mentally. We really started playing much better towards the end of the season and when playoffs rolled around. We ended up playing Richmond Hill for the Region Championship, only losing it off a solo homerun.”
The Gators lose just three players from last year’s team and return five seniors: Emily Oliver,
Amber Holley, Lizzie Shubert, Kennedy Sanders, and Alexis Trusty. With experience on the field, they are concentrating on being more mentally prepared this year. One major change will be the effects of region realignment by the Georgia High School Association. Ware County will remain in AAAAA but will move from Region 3 to Region 2, which includes New Hampstead, South Effingham, Statesboro, and Wayne County. “Our region will be competitive for us,” Kirkland said. “Wayne and South Effingham always have a competitive program. Statesboro has been improving year to year. I honestly do not know a whole lot about New Hampstead. My focus as a coach is for the girls to play hard no matter who their opponent is at the time.”
This year the team will take it slow and work toward a region championship and a playoff spot. “I think with any coach and program, we have to think one game at a time, but ultimately we are all striving for that goal at the end,” Kirkland said.
Ware County Girl’s Softball Schedule
Aug. 3 Scrimmage vs Bacon County
Aug. 9 @ Bacon Alma, Ga 5:45
Aug. 10 vs. Tift County @ Tifton, Ga. 5:00
Aug. 11 vs. Coffee County @ Douglas, Ga. 5:45
Aug. 16 vs. Camden County @ Waycross, Ga. 5:45
Aug. 18 vs. New Hampstead @ Savannah, Ga. 4:30
Aug. 19 vs. Cordelle Tournament @ Cordelle, Ga. TBA
Aug. 20 vs. Cordelle Tournament @ Cordelle, Ga. TBA
Aug. 22 vs. Coffee County @ Waycross, Ga. 5:45
Aug. 25 vs. Wayne County @ Jesup, Ga. 5:45
Aug. 30 vs. Statesboro @ Waycross, Ga. 5:00 Senior Night
Sept. 1 vs. South Effingham @ Springfield, Ga. 6:00
Sept. 7 vs. Tift County @ Waycross, Ga. 5:00
Sept. 8 vs. New Hampstead @ Waycross, Ga. 4:30 Cancer Awareness Game
Sept. 10 vs. Lowndes County Tournament @ Valdosta, Ga. TBA
Sept. 13 vs. Camden County @ Kingsland, Ga 6:00
Sept. 15 vs. Wayne County @ Waycross, Ga. 5:45
Sept. 20 vs. Statesboro @ Statesboro, Ga. 5:00
Sept. 22 vs. South Effingham @ Waycross, Ga. 4:30
Sept. 26 vs. Lowndes County @ Valdosta, Ga. 5:30
The Gators football team got the season off to a rousing start with a strong showing in a preseason scrimmage against AAAAAAA Camden County.
While Friday nights have the spotlight on the varsity football team, Thursday afternoons belong to the junior varsity and ninth-grade teams.
2016 JV Football Schedule
Aug. 18 vs. Tift County @ Tifton, Ga. 5:00
Aug. 25 vs. Camden County @ Kingsland, Ga. 5:00
Sept. 1 vs. Coffee County @ Douglas, Ga. 5:00
Sept. 15 vs. Benedictine @ Savannah, Ga. 5:00
Sept. 22 vs. Bradwell Institute @ Waycross, Ga 5:00
Oct. 6 vs. Camden County @ Waycross, Ga 5:00
Oct. 13 vs. Bacon County @ Waycross, Ga
2016 9th Grade Football Schedule
Aug. 18 vs. Tift County @ Waycross, Ga 5:00
Aug. 25 vs. Benedictine @ Waycross, Ga 5:00
Sept. 1 vs. Coffee County @ Waycross, Ga 5:00
Sept. 8 vs. McIntosh Academy @ Darien, Ga. 5:00
Sept. 15 vs. Charlton County JV @ Waycross, Ga 5:00
Oct. 6 vs. Camden County @ Kingsland, Ga. 5:00
Oct. 13 vs. Charlton County @ Folkston, Ga.
ITG Web Content
Lady Gators Softball Looks For Deep Run In Playoffs
