Softball: Area teams poised for another banner season in 2020

The 2019 softball season for northeast Georgia area teams was one of the best in recent memory.

 

Banks County captured its first-ever state title (Class 2A) and three other teams -- Commerce (3rd in Class A Public), Buford (4th in Class 5A), East Hall (top 6 in Class 3A) -- all were within just a few pitches of playing for a state title as well. In all, six teams advanced to the Elite 8 in Columbus in 2019 and a dozen teams made it to the playoffs across six classifications.

 

And even factoring in reclassification and the shifting of several teams into new classifications, the 2020 season already has the look of what could be another banner year for area teams.

 

East Hall and Jefferson, both Elite 8 teams in Class 3A in 2019, moved to Region 8-4A. Buford is now in Class 6A and Jackson County has moved up to Class 5A.

 

Banks County will still occupy front-runner status in Region 8-2A despite graduating six starters, including the state’s No. 1 pitcher in 2019 in Tybe Benton (North Georgia-signee). 

 

Coach Kelby Cronic said the Lady Leopards have some big shoes to fill and will take on a different look in 2020. They open up on Aug. 11 at Jefferson.

 

“We don’t have anyone quite at the level of Tybe but we have three girls (sophomores Lindsey Crawford and Jacy Ayers and freshman Ellie Preza) who we think will all be pretty good with more experience,” Cronic said. “We still have a solid lineup and we return our entire infield. We’ll have to rely a little more on our defense.

 

Ayers (first base), sophomore Kylee Brooks (second base), senior Madison Cronic (shortstop), and sophomore Jodie Hood (third base) give Banks County an experienced infield. Cronic was a first-team Class 2A All-State selection in 2019 and Ayers and Brooks were Honorable Mentions.

 

“I don’t see us being as dominant as we were last year,” Cronic said. “But at the same time, a lot of the top teams in Class 2A also graduated a lot of good players so we should be right in the mix of things. Our expectations are the same regardless.

 

“We want to get back to Columbus and defend our title. I think this group can get there.”

 

Meanwhile, Commerce comes in with a dozen returning players from last year’s team that just missed out a state championship series berth in 2019. 

 

It was hard for Lady Tigers’ coach Melissa Mullis to contain her excitement for the start of the 2020 campaign. They open Aug. 11 as well traveling to Towns County.

 

“We have a lot of girls coming back that saw a lot of action. We have great team unity coming into this season and the talent is there for sure,” Mullis said. “I think we’re set up for another big run if everyone stays healthy.

 

The biggest obstacle coming into the 2019 season was their lack of deep playoff experience. They got that. 

 

They also have two-time Region 8-A Player of the Year and First-team All-State selection in junior pitcher/first baseman Carson Hobbs (just under .500 batting average in 2019). Senior pitcher/infielder Rachel Morgan and two more first-team All-State players in senior Gabbie  Deaton (.800 on-base percentage) and senior catcher Maggie Mullis (.320 BA) give them plenty of firepower.

 

Now, Mullis is hoping that will translate into taking that last step.

 

“Last year was big for us to get that far but we kind of fell apart in the semifinal game. We have come together more as a team this year and we’re working on being better in the pressure situations,” Mullis said.

 

“I feel we’re definitely a state title contender. Our depth is strong. We have a lot of girls who can play all over the field. Now that we’ve been to Columbus, they know what to expect. I’m very excited to see what we can do this year.”

 

East Hall is coming off its best season in program history with 26 wins, a Region 7-3A title, and a top-six finish in Class 3A in Columbus. The Lady Vikings also have a plethora of talent returning, though they did lose their top RBI and home run leaders.

 

They also will be moving up to Class 4A, Region 8-4A in particular, which consists of four teams that made deep playoff runs and three teams -- East Hall and Jefferson in Class 3A, and Madison County in Class 4A -- that advanced to Columbus in 2019.

 

Coach Anuel Burce said they are ready for the new challenge. The Lady Vikings open the season Aug. 6 at home against old 7-3A foe Cherokee Bluff.

 

“It’s going to be a very competitive region with a lot of good teams. But that also should help us get better as we go along and be ready for the playoffs,” Burce said.

 

The Lady Vikings return the bulk of their lineup in juniors Alexis Burce and Callie Hardison and sophomores Callie Dale and Gracie Ausborn. Sophomore Ansley Ivey and junior Brooke Hewell could be ready for breakout seasons as well. Hardison will assume the bulk of the pitching duties.

 

“I think the key will be the girls feeling that they can be competitive without the girls we lost to graduation,” Burce said. “The talent is there. Our expectation is that we can get back to Columbus even though we’re moving up a class. It should be a fun season.”