From changing regions to returning elite talent, there’s plenty to be excited about for Fall 2016 with the local high school softball teams in Northeast Georgia.
Teams like Habersham Central will look to pen a new chapter in program history with a new region in 2016, while teams like Union County (who also moved up a classification), Dawson County and Banks County will look to continue impressive trends of competing for a state title.
Here is a brief look at each team throughout Northeast Georgia:
Habersham Central (8-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Stephanie Thomas, 13th season
2015 Record: 6-17 (5-12)
Key losses: Haley Dodgins (C), Kaleigh Caldwell (OF)
The Lady Raiders lost three key seniors, including standouts Haley Dodgins and Kaleigh Caldwell. However, this was a young team in 2015 that will see benefits of last year’s experience this year. Five times in the last seven years, the Lady Raiders have notched a winning season, so 2015 becomes an anomaly for this program that will surely bounce back within an all-new region, leaning on players such as sophomore infielder Paige Cooke (2nd team all-region), junior pitcher Ansleigh Holland and senior infielder Janie Beth Webb, among others.
White County (7-AAAA)
Head Coach: Drew Owens, 2nd season
2015 Record: 7-14 (1-7)
Key losses: Bell Fain, Madeline Bryson, Katelyn Bouknight
The Lady Warriors open 2016 without five seniors from last year, but have plenty of players who will make an impact, including star catcher, junior Jessica Morgan. Owens will look to get White County back to the state playoffs, as they grew accustomed to going (four times in last seven years). White County’s softball program reached an all-time high in 2010 with a state championship, but has not made it past the first round in any playoff run since.
Stephens County (8-AAAA)
Head Coach: Dave Poffenberger, 2nd season
2015 Record: 18-7 (7-4)
Even 18 wins couldn’t get the Lady Indians into the state playoffs with a stiff region that featured Buford, North Hall and North Oconee, despite beating the latter in two out of three games to close the regular season. However, Stephens County led the region with the best pitching staff, holding opponents to a region-best 67 runs. With Buford moving up and out of the region in 2016, as well as North Hall dropping down and out, the field looks a little more favorable for Stephens County.
Lumpkin County (7-AAA)
Head Coach: Joseph Jones, 3rd season
2015 Record: 8-21 (3-11)
Lumpkin’s three-year streak of playing in the state tournament was snapped in 2015 with an eight-win campaign, but the Lady Indians will look to bounce back with a very young group in 2016. After an Elite 8 run to Columbus in 2012, Lumpkin appeared and got bounced in the opening round in the following two seasons. Consistency within the coaching staff has been problematic for Lumpkin, as the school has featured five coaching changes in seven years, but Jones being in his third year helps keep the team focused on a consistent goal and philosophy.
Dawson County (7-AAA)
Head Coach: Jimmy Pruett, 10th season
2015 Record: 8-15 (6-6), 1st Round 3A State Playoffs
Key losses: Tabitha Morrison (OF), Katelyn Simpson
Dawson’s 6-6 mark within region play last year was enough to punch a ticket to the state playoffs, nevermind the overall 8-15 mark. That makes five of the past six years that the Lady Tigers have went to the state tournament, which includes a Sweet 16 run (2012) and Elite 8 run (2014) to Columbus. Five seniors depart the program, however, including Tabitha Morrison (Brenau) and Katelyn Simpson (Andrew College), but will return seniors Sydney McGinnis (Anderson Broaddus commit) and Natalie Glass to lead the way.
Union County (7-AAA)
Head Coach: Jessica Stewart, 11th season
2015 Record: 23-9 (10-2), Region Champs, Elite 8 2A State Playoffs
Key losses: Karley Nix (IF), Maddie Garrett (C)
Perhaps North Georgia’s most elite program, Union County has made state in nine of coach Jessica Stewart’s 10 years as head coach, including six runs to the Sweet 16 or better. A state runner-up finish in 2010 was the height of the program, but a third Elite 8 run for the Lady Panthers in 2015 was quite impressive with a group that contained only two seniors. Returning will be elite prospect, senior pitcher Laken Chambers, senior infielder Kendra Tanner along with two other seniors. This is still a young group, but with a talent like Chambers leading the way, this could be the year for Union (moving up to class 3A) to make another serious run at a state title.
Banks County (8-AA)
Head Coach: Tony Bowen, 5th season
2015 Record: 17-9 (11-1), Regular Season Region Champs, 1st Round 3A State Playoffs
Key losses: Mallory Parson (P/1B), Morgan Rylee
It will be extremely difficult replacing a player like Mallory Parson (Ga Military College) who had a sub-2.00 ERA and 18 wins in the circle, while also pacing the offense with a .420 average. Four seniors from last year’s playoff team are now gone, a group that made it to state in all four years they were at Banks County. The Lady Leopards will have to reload in a new region after stepping down from 3A to 2A.
Rabun County (8-AA)
Head Coach: Danette Holcomb (formerly Irvin), 2nd season
2015 Record: 14-16 (4-6), 1st Round 2A State Playoffs
Key losses: Alexis Owens
The Lady Wildcats are fresh off back-to-back state playoff runs, despite both years not having a winning record. Returning to lead the way will be senior pitcher Trista Houston (.444 avg, 4 HR, 41 RBI) who’s offensive production is even more valuable. This team departed with three seniors, so returns a bulk of the talent they have featured over the last couple of years. In fact, seven starters return to anchor this team that will be a force in 8-AA, led by senior Trista Houston and Tessa Matheson, as well as Jaden Quilliams and Summer Fountain.
Holcomb says, “we have some freshmen coming in that I am very excited about. Coming into this new region, I still feel like we are overlooked but that works into our favor. We love working hard and being able to surprise people!”
Towns County (8-A)
Head Coach: Brandon Rowland, 3rd season
2015 Record: 1-19 (1-11)
The Lady Indians are a growing team, and will look to rebound from a one-win 2015. They lost only three players from last year, which came after a school-record 9-win 2014 season in which most of the impact players graduated after that season. After five coaches in five years, Brandon Rowland now enters his third season, so the consistency in the program is sure to pay dividends with a unified philosophy.
Commerce (8-A)
Head Coach: TBA
2015 Record: 9-15 (3-7)
Key losses: Mattie Canup (C)
2015 was an off-year for the Lady Tigers under then-coach Pam Canup, whose daughter Mattie Canup led a team that could only pull off nine wins. The previous three seasons saw Commerce go to state each year, including an Elite 8 run to Columbus and a Sweet 16 appearance. With only three seniors graduating from last year’s team, the Lady Tigers should be able to compete for another trip to state with whoever takes over the program after the departure of Pam Canup.
