Johns off to hot start for Gamecocks, others make impact
There has been plenty of talent on display on the local high school softball fields over the last few years, and college coaches across the country have taken notice.
Several former local standouts from Calhoun, Sonoraville and Gordon Central are now playing on the next level and making an impact for their college teams. A total of 12 former local players are on college rosters, and many of them are off to a strong start to the 2018 season.
Here is an update on each of the locals that have seen action through this point of the season (stats and records are through Monday, March 12):
JANA JOHNS South Carolina, Fr., Calhoun
Johns has wasted no time making her presence felt on the diamond for South Carolina as a freshman as she has played in 24 games (all starts) and is currently batting .290 with 18 total hits, including four doubles and two homers, with 25 RBIs and 13 runs scored. The third-baseman has also drawn two walks and been hit by pitch 13 times to go along with three stolen bases. Johns has recorded a .968 fielding percentage so far and has been a part of turning four double plays for the Gamecocks, who are currently 21-3 on the season and open SEC play on Friday when they travel to Ole Miss for the first of a three-game weekend series.
ALLIE JONES Mercer, Fr., Calhoun
Jones has gotten her college career off to a solid start in her first season with Mercer. The freshman outfielder has played in 23 games (16 starts) and has a .326 batting average with 15 total hits, including three doubles and one triple, to go with 10 RBIs and eight runs scored. Jones has drawn three walks and has one stolen base while also recording a perfect fielding percentage to this point for the Bears, who are 16-8 overall and will play in the Mercer Bears Classic on their home field starting on Friday as they welcome Austin Peay, Rutgers and Bucknell with the tournament wrapping up on Sunday.
ALYSSA SHAWGO West Virginia Wesleyan, Sr., Calhoun
Shawgo, a senior pitcher, has made four appearances (three starts) so far in the Bobcats’ first 13 games and has a 1-1 record with an ERA of 5.35 in the circle. She has worked 17 innings and has struck out six batters for West Virginia Wesleyan, who is currently 7-6 overall and play their first Mountain East Conference games this weekend when they travel to Fairmont State for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday before playing a doubleheader at Shepherd starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
RYAN BRZOZOSKI Samford, Fr., Calhoun
Brzozoski, a freshman utility player, has played in 25 games (24 starts) for Samford so far and has a .266 batting average with 21 total hits, including one double, with three RBIs and seven runs scored. She has drawn five walks and two hit-by-pitches, stolen two bases and has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage for the Bulldogs, who are currently 5-20 overall and will play in the Belmont Tournament starting on Friday and wrapping up on Sunday as they will face Belmont, Tennessee State, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.
CASSIE HENDERSON West Georgia, Fr., Calhoun
Henderson, a freshman first baseman, has played in eight games (four starts) and has three total hits, including two doubles, with four RBIs and five runs scored. She has also drawn two walks and two hit-by-pitches and has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage for the Wolves, who are 14-7 overall and 7-5 in Gulf South Conference play. They will visit Shorter University for a three-game conference series starting on Friday at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
KINSEY LISCIO Western Carolina, Soph., Calhoun
The sophomore pitcher Liscio has made eight appearances with seven starts for the Catamounts and has a 2-3 record and 7.75 ERA so far this season. She has worked 28 innings and has two complete games while striking out 15 batters for Western Carolina, who are 6-14 overall and will next host Presbyterian for a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 3 p.m.
LILY HAYES Western Carolina, Jr., Sonoraville
Hayes, a junior pitcher, has made five starts in the circle and 10 appearances in all as she has a record of 1-6 and an ERA of 7.18. She has pitched two complete games and has worked 38 total innings, racking up 18 strikeouts and only making one defensive error to this point. The Catamounts are currently 6-14 overall and will host Presbyterian for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 3 p.m.
ASHLYN BARNES Samford, Fr., Calhoun
Barnes, a freshman utility player, has appeared in 24 games (22) starts and has 10 total hits, two RBIs and seven runs scored. She has drawn six walks and two hitby-pitches and is a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts while recording a .912 fielding percentage. The Bulldogs are currently 5-20 overall and will play in the Belmont Tournament starting on Friday and wrapping up on Sunday as they will face Belmont, Ten- nessee State, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.
BAYLEE BLAYLOCK West Georgia Tech, Fr., Sonoraville
Blaylock, a freshman catcher and first baseman, has played in 13 games for the Golden Knights so far and has seven hits, including a home run, with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. She also has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage for West Georgia Tech, who are currently 3-11 overall and 0-6 in Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association play. They will next play a conference doubleheader at South Georgia State College on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. followed by another conference doubleheader at East Georgia State College on Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
RYANN LUNA Jacksonville St., Soph., Gordon Central
Luna, a sophomore utility player, has played in nine games (seven starts) for the Gamecocks and has drawn two walks and scored a run in 13 at-bats. She has recorded a .933 fielding percentage for Jacksonville State, who are currently 8-12 overall and will next play in the Charleston Invitational in Charleston, S.C., starting on Friday. They will square off against Georgetown, Texas and College of Charleston in the tournament that wraps up on Sunday.
TAYLOR KELLY Mississippi State, Jr., Calhoun
Kelly, a junior utility player, has appeared in four games so far in 2018 for the Bulldogs and hasn’t recorded a hit yet in four at-bats while striking out once. Mississippi State is currently 21-3 on the season and will visit Missouri to open up SEC play with a three-game series this weekend, starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
NOTE:
If there’s a former local softball player making an impact for their college team and we left them out, let us know by emailing afarrer@ calhountimes.com.