Bryan County’s softball team finished the season with a rush and wound up not only qualifying for the Class A-DII state playoffs for the first time in three years but also advanced to the Sweet 16 as a No. 4 seed.
For their efforts seven Redskins players were named to the Region 3A-DII all-region team. That means 70 percent of Coach Jessica Schroeder-Cooper’s team was recognized by region coaches.
Cooper guided her team to a 17-15 record in her second year at Bryan County with only 10 players and she had to make do with nine for a stretch in the middle of the season when senior outfielder McKinley Walker went down with an ankle injury.
Shortstop Liz Harvey, third baseman Camryn Parker, junior outfielder Emily Johnson and sophomore pitcher Lila Hannah were all named first team. Walker, pitcher-infielder Eris Deal and sophomore catcher Peyton Scott were second team choices.
Harvey, Parker and Deal will be taking their talent to the next level next fall. Harvey and Parker have committed to play at East Georgia State College while Deal is going to South Carolina-Salkehatchie.
Harvey and Parker having committed to East Georgia State is a big of a misnomer. The school is undergoing a major overhaul which will impact their careers. It has been essentially a two-year school since its founding in Swainsboro in 1971 as Emanuel County Junior College. It became East Georgia State in 1988 and has been offering bachelor’s degrees in limited fields since 2012.
Bobcats athletic teams have always competed at the junior college level but beginning this fall they will be competing at the NAIA level and under the GSU-East banner.
Harvey and Parker each hit 10 home runs this past season, two shy of the school record of 12 held by Logan Harrell, per Cooper who will have a major rebuilding job on her hands next year as she loses five seniors.
“I think the future is bright,” Cooper said. “This group of seniors have paved the way for the next wave of success here in Redskin nation. I’m thrilled I got to be a small part of their success and watch them create the winning culture again here at Bryan County High School.”
Cooper will be replacing her entire infield but she believes the return of Hannah in the circle and Peyton behind the plate along with Johnson in center will provide a strong starting point for next year.
“Having Lila and Peyton returning for the next two years makes the rebuild around them much easier,” Cooper said. “Emily had a great season and having her bat back in the lineup will be a big boost, too.”