The 16U Renegades, a travel softball team based in North Bryan, just wrapped up another successful season.

The team placed second, third and even first in area tournaments this summer.

The team is coached by Steve and Christy Howard and Doug Foxworth.

All three have worked with these same players on the Renegades team since they were very young and followed along with them at each age level.

"The thing that impressed me most about this group was their attitudes," Steve Howard said. "The wins were great, but the maturity they showed was even better. A lot of coaches and parents came up to Doug, Christy and I during the World Series event and commented on the good sportsmanship of the Renegades."

For the last four years, the Renegades have widely been considered a strong proponent in prepping softball players for successful runs at Bryan County Middle and High Schools.

In recent years, the team has even featured some Richmond Hill High School players. Even before creating the Renegades brand, this coaching trio was involved in the rec department.

Howard said his motivation behind coaching these girls is to nurture the success of the Redskins. He and wife Christie have two daughters, Samantha and Tiffany, on the team which is another motivating factor. As for Foxworth, Howard said he is a Pembroke native and also has that Redskin pride which drives him to help these kids.

The team roster this year includes Redskin players Samantha Howard, Rebecca Horton, Stacy Turner, Jenna Schuman, Tiffany Howard, Stephanie Turner, Rebecca Strickland, Jerri Hines and Sierra Newman as well as RHHS players Hillary Roberts and Lauren Davis. Rounding out the team are area players Dominique Sibley and Kadee Williams.

BCHS star pitcher Samantha Howard was absent from the mound this summer due to a shoulder injury, playing shortstop instead.

Her dad said she should be healed up in time for school ball. Meanwhile, he said this paved the way for her younger sister Tiffany and RHHS player Hillary Roberts to share the pitching duties. Howard said both girls did an excellent job.

Christy Howard said each member of the team pulled their weight and made the coaching staff proud. Some of the tournament play saw the 16U team play some 18U teams, and she said the team held their own.

Steve Howard reflected on some of the summer highlights: Rebecca Horton nailing an over-the-fence homerun to tie up the score at the WFC World Series, Hillary Roberts pitching two winning games at the same event, freshmen catchers Jerri Hines and Jenna Schuman displaying great defense, Sam Howard and Stephanie Turner consistently being strong at bat, and RHHS player Lauren Davis showing solid defense and batting.

"Steve and Doug and Christy have done a great job over the past decade," BCHS softball coach Al Butler said. "Their program has allowed many of the Redskins to learn to play together. A lot of times, they’ll play an age bracket up to push them to the limits. This is one of the reasons Redskin girls have such a great understanding of the game and no one intimidates them. The Renegades program instills confidence in these young ladies and is absolutely a great thing for this sporting community."