Richmond Hill High School finds itself in a “new” Region 3-AAAAA this year, but third-year softball coach Angie Hummeldorf expects her team to remain competitive and be in the hunt for a third straight trip to the state Class AAAAA playoffs.
The Lady Wildcats, who finished 20-10 last season, return four starters — senior pitcher Ally Crum, senior third baseman Liz Wallace, senior outfielder Carolina Williams and junior shortstop Katie Petty.
Add junior pitcher Sam Mault, junior centerfielder Natalie Corbin, who missed most of last season due to injury, and a number of underclassmen who should be able to contribute right off the bat, and Hummeldorf thinks the Lady Wildcats can overcome the loss from last year’s team of standout catcher Sophia Lorimer, centerfielder Ciara Patrick and designated hitter and infielder Cristy Davenport..
*We also have a strong freshman class and we have started the season with a small varsity roster because of this. There is a handful of them that have the potential to move up throughout the season and help us be successful,” said Hummeldorf, who is 37-23 in her three seasons as head coach.
The Lady Wildcats expect to be solid defensively and are working to be more consistent offensively, and Hummeldorf said the potential is there to be strong in both areas.
“We have to be able to execute offensively at the right times. Last year we lost a lot of close games, due to either not getting runners on and/or not moving runners around,” said Hummeldorf, who has stressed a team-first mentality and accountability since taking the job and turned around a program that had struggled to win in the years just prior to her arrival.
Things are changing somewhat in 2014 with a new subdivided region, but the Lady Wildcats’ main competition for the top will remain Effingham County, while South Effingham, which moved up from Class AAAA, is also expected to be a tough foe.
“We have battled with Effingham the past few years. We went 1-1 with them during region play last year and lost in the region championship to them ending the regular season as region runner up,” Hummeldorf said. “South Effingham is very competitive, as well. I think both teams are beatable, but we have to make sure we take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.”

Varsity numerical roster
1 Isabelle Marsh
2 Jess Kifferly
3 Caroline Williams
5 Natalie Corbin
7 Katie Petty
8 Morgan Hunter
9 Samantha Mault
10 Ally Crum
16 Liz Wallace
17 Aubri Reed
JV roster
Adrianna Garrett
Haley Taylor
Maddie Gorsuch
Darian Christian
Trinity Jennings
Kyla Armstrong
Alanna Gueits
Lyndsey Boone
Tori Hicks
Dakota Murray

2014 schedule
Aug. 6 vs Savannah Christian (scrimmage) 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 11 at Calvary Day, 4 p.m.
Aug. 15-16 at Mill Creek Tournament, Statesboro
Aug. 18 vs. Long County, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 vs. Bryan County, 4 p.m.
Aug. 21 at South Effingham, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 22-23 at Battle in the ‘Boro
Aug. 26 at Bradwell Institute, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 at Southeast Bulloch, 5 p.m.
Aug. 28 vs. Statesboro, 5 p.m.
Aug. 28 vs. Colquitt County, 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 vs. Calvary Day, 4 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Liberty County, 4 .m.
Sept. 9 vs. Effingham County, 6 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. South Effingham, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 12-13 at Mark Mosely Cancer Awareness Tournament
Sept. 15 at Long County, 4:30 .m.
Sept. 16 vs. Bradwell Institute, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Statesboro, 5 pm.
Sept. 22 vs. Liberty County, 4 p.m.

Note: Most games are JV/V
doubleheaders.