Ringgold expects to be in playoff hunt
After eight years as an assistant coach with the Ringgold High School softball program, it’s now Daniel Hackett’s turn at the helm.
Hackett was tabbed as the school’s new head coach earlier this year and the former Ringgold baseball standout says he’s excited for the opportunity.
“We’re going to be a fundamentally-sound team and we want discipline to be our strength,” he said. “We want to set our game plan and go out and execute it. We want our offense to be on the field twice as long as our defense is and I have confidence that the 12 girls we have on the roster can go out and do that.”
While 12 seems like a very low number for softball, Hackett believes he has the right players in place to make it work.
“I like having a low number (of players), although sometimes it can be a disadvantage as well as an advantage,” he explained. “We’re going to really rely on one pitcher, but I don’t see us giving up very many runs and there are a couple of girls I expect to really carry us offensively.
“We lost some speed with the five seniors we graduated, but I think we have picked up some speed since last year with the five freshmen we have coming in. I really think our freshman class is a good class than can step right in.”
Hackett will go to battle with a trio of seniors.
Kaylee Womack is returning at the hot corner and be one of the team’s top hitters. Versatile utility player Bailey Farrow could also see some innings in the circle, while outfielder Gracie Morrison is back after a breakout season in 2016.
Hackett said the seniors have really stepped up as leaders this off-season.
“This is the first time in the past couple of years that we did some summer stuff,” he said. Attendance was high and those three seniors played a big role in getting everyone here and encouraging the younger players to buy in to what we’re trying to do.”
The junior class is made up of just one player in Brooklyn Keith, who has been waiting in the wings to take over at shortstop. Hackett believes Keith has the offensive potential to match her defensive skills.
The sophomores
group include slugging centerfielder Shelby Cole, who has added extra speed since last year, and the battery of pitcher Kaylee Phillips and catcher Gillian Little. Both were stalwarts for the Blueand-White last year and Hackett said he is expecting even bigger and better things this fall.
“They did some great things last year as pitcher and catcher and they’ve got an incredibly strong bond from having played together for so many years,” the coach said. “Both of them also came up in crucial situations at the plate last year and provided big RBIs. I think they’ll be big contributors in the lineup once again.”
Hackett also sings the praises of his freshman class, who will all likely see plenty of innings this season. The class includes sisters Amber and Jade Gainer, who can both play outfield as well as on the infield corners, second baseman/ outfielder Caroline Hemphill, middle infielder/outfielder
Riley Nayadley and outfielder Jersey McCann, who brings tremendous speed to the team.
Hackett’s assistant coaches will be Jane Nayadley and former Ringgold All-State pitcher Jessica (Cross) Duncan, a three-time Atlantic Sun AllConference player at Kennesaw State.
Region 6-AAA will once again be tough, but Hackett says he has confidence that his team will be there at the end, fighting for a region title, as long as they stay healthy.
“We just have to play our (brand of) ball and I don’t see that as being a problem for us,” he added. “I don’t think we’ll lose any ground based on where we traditionally are in the region. If anything, I hope we gain ground. I got 12 strong athletes and I think they’ll surprise some people with what we haven’t lost.”
Ringgold, coming off a 21-14 season that saw them advance to the second round of the Class AAA state playoffs, will open at Ridgeland on Monday, Aug. 7. The home and region opener will be the following day against Sonoraville.