SOFTBALL SEASON OUTLOOK
The legacy of the Greyhounds senior class on the softball program is already pretty significant.
Already part of a state title team in 2020, they’ve also been part of three trips in a row to the Elite Eight in Columbus.
The next goal? Making it a clean sweep of trips to the Elite Eight for a senior class that includes Aniya Canty, Stella Lacy, Taylor Nipper, Shayla Pennington and Ciara Stephens in addition to another who is new to the team, Kimmya Epps.
“They’ve done a good job of bringing everybody along with them. They don’t put a lot of pressure on themselves,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Tripp Burt said. “They’ll keep it that way through the season, stay loose and go do what they do.”
That journey got underway this past Monday with the opening of the season at Houston County with the home slate on Thursday against Dodge County. At the end of the day, the task for the Lady Greyhounds is simple, to make a strong postseason run and play their best softball when it matters the most.
Region play begins Aug. 16 at home against Locust Grove followed by another home contest Aug. 18 against Eagles Landing and Aug. 23 at Ola. In facing Locust Grove and Ola, JCHS draws two of the region’s top teams who also regularly contend for the Elite Eight early on in the season.
“Making a good postseason run and having a solid season, that’s kind of our goal,” Burt said. “The beginning of the region schedule is tough, but we’ll see them again at the end. As usual, you have to get hot at the right time.”
Part of that will be in replacing key losses at the pitcher and catcher positions.
Nine seniors departed off of last year’s group – including pitcher Destin Howard, now at UGA – as well as catcher Taylor Trefelner. Obviously, filling vacancies at these two positions will be important. One option behind the plate is Shayla Pennington, who logged significant time as a pitcher in previous years and can also play positions in the field.
And if one believes that catcher is the on-field quarterback, Pennington fits the bill as one of the most vocal members of the team.
“She plays well everywhere and does a lot of good things,” Burt said. “She’s our local leader and is always trying to keep everyone else in it.”
In the pitcher’s circle, the Lady Hounds stand to have multiple options, and it’s a depth that Jones County’s coaching staff is excited about. In addition to Pennington, sophomore Ansley Pegg, Stephens and freshman Cate Downey should see time.
“We’ve got some depth there, a little more than we have had in the past,” Burt said.
That includes Downey, who Burt expects to benefit from being with the varsity roster.
“It’ll be good for her to around the older girls, to see how things are done,” Burt said. “It’ll be huge.”
Although some spots are needed to be filled at pitcher and catcher as well as first base, the same is not true on the left side of the infield. Aniya Canty at third base, Taylor Nipper at shortstop and Kimber Kent at second should anchor things.
The need to find new charges also exists in the outfield, but options are aplenty with Lacy, Leah Betts, Epps and Tranasia Parker on track on step up. Both Parker and Epps are two-sport athletes, having starred for the Lady Greyhounds track and field team this past season with Epps and Parker in the discus and Parker also in the 200-meter run and high jump.
“She’s a special talent,” Burt said of Parker. “She can run, has a good arm, has a lot of power, she’s a complete player.”
