LFO softball team looking to defy its age
Tony Ellis has coached through many different circumstances during his years on the bench, but nothing quite like the challenges that the 2020 fastpitch softball season have already brought.
On one hand, Ellis and his staff of Lauren Dyer and Kensey Sholl are coaching through an unprecedented pandemic, one that has resulted in an ever-changing list of guidelines, rules, and regulations that has given the Lady Warriors — and every other team around the state — a late start in preparations for the season.
Then throw in the fact that LFO has just two seniors, no juniors and that half of its roster are freshmen and it’s certainly not an understatement to call the 2020 season “unique”, even before the first pitch has officially been thrown.
However, he said that as far as the coronavirus goes, his players are handling things as well as can be expected.
“Obviously, it’s been very different than what we’re accustomed to,” he said. “Normally, we start right when school is out with doing summer workouts and those type of things. (But) we didn’t even get to have tryouts until July this year and we normally have them in May. It’s been a big adjustment not really even knowing for sure who you are going to have on your team until this late in the summer and then trying to get everything you need ordered and all of that because you didn’t even know if you were going to have a season.
“But since we’ve been allowed to start, we’ve tried to make it as normal as possible. Our kids have done well with it. They’ve adjusted and it is what it is. But we also know things can change on a daily basis with what we’re allowed to do and not do. You try to prepare yourself the best you can, but you’re also trying to be as normal as possible too.”
The two lone seniors are LFO veterans in pitcher Haley
Stahl and infielder Auna Rolfe.
Stahl, who has committed to play at Bryan College, had a 1.77 ERA last season with 87 strikeouts against just 21 walks in 134.1 innings. She also batted .408 at the plate with nine doubles, a triple, three home runs and 19 RBIs to earn first team status in Region 6-AAA. Meanwhile, Rolfe battled through some injuries and hit .271 with 10 RBIs last fall, but hit .408 as a sophomore with a homer and 18 RBIs.
Stahl will be the Lady Warriors’ primary pitcher again this season, while Rolfe is slated to move from shortstop to first base in her final season.
“They’ve both been here for years,” Ellis said. “I really believe Bryan College stole a good one (with Stahl). She’s a really good kid and Auna has battled injuries for years, but she’s always come through and been a really good player for us.”
The two seniors will be counted on more than ever to be leaders for the Red-and-White, who will return four sophomores and will welcome seven high school rookies.
Julie Shore leads the sophomore contingent at third base. The returning veteran has improved at the plate and continues to play sound defense, having won the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award and second team All-Region honors last year. Behind the plate will be Breonn Newbille, who started several games a year ago and will be counted on heavily this season.
The other two sophomores, Caroline Miller and Macey McGrew, both saw some varsity innings in the outfield in 2019 and will be asked to play bigger roles this season. Miller will also likely see some time in the circle.
The rest of the roster will be made up of freshmen, but if there was ever a year for a team to rely so much on a group of rookies, it’s this year as the newcomers were all part of an outstanding Lakeview Middle School team that won the North
Georgia Athletic Conference championship last fall.
Heidi Johnson will see time in the circle and will spend a good deal of time at shortstop, while Carlee Wilson will lineup next to her former middle school teammate up the middle at second base. Tatyanna Long is a versatile athlete that will play mostly in the outfield, but can also catch and play middle infield, if needed.
Lexi Downey is a corner infielder with good skills at the plate who could see time as the team’s designated player this season. Kloe Osborne will give LFO some extra depth at first base. Haven Holloway is a catcher who can also play some at first, while Britini Newbille is another good utility player who can pitch and play multiple spots in the field.
“All of those kids are fighting for positions right now,” Ellis added. “Nothing’s in stone as far as who’s starting (going into the season), but we’ve got a good group of freshmen and sophomores and our two seniors are solid. We’re going to be young, but most of those freshmen have played
on summer teams and they’ve played a lot of softball.”
Ellis said having Stahl’s senior experience in the circle will be a team strength.
“She’s been through it,” he continued. “She’s pitched a lot, ever since her freshman year, so her experience is obviously going to be very important. We feel like she’ll keep us in games and hopefully our young pups will grow up as we get toward region tournament time.”
Ellis said he expects his club to be defensively sound, but his main concern lies with finding a way to score runs, especially with such a youthful team most likely facing older, more veteran opposition.
“I’ve been around for a while, so I’ve seen the difference in freshmen and seniors,” he said. “But if our kids can grow up and realize that ‘hey, it doesn’t matter if I’m just a freshman, I’m getting a chance to play’ and they can handle that, then I think we can be competitive and we can be pretty good. The talent is there, it’s just that the inexperience is there too.”