The BCHS Ladyskins went back to work this week as they welcomed the Portal High School Panthers to Redskin field for their first meeting this season. With a day off in their regular schedule, the Redskins hit the practice field to fine tune their game for the second half of the season. Coach Kim Covington had this to say about her team’s performance so far.
"I think that we are steadily improving our game. I don’t think that we have come close to reaching our potential. We have so much talent on this team. When we do finally get it all together (mental game as well as physical game), there won’t be a team around who will be able to contain us."
After facing the Portal High School Lady Panthers on Thursday, the Ladyskins will begin the second round of games against their Region 3A opponents.
Covington has a great deal of confidence in her team for the second half of the season.
"Our bats have been slow to come around. This past week I have seen much improvement in the batter’s box," she said.
"We will continue to work on our offense. I have high expectations of what this team can do with the remaining games of this season. We’re moving in the right direction. This team has the potential to make it to the state finals. I have no doubt about that."
The Ladyskins’ current 3-3 record in the region gives them a three way tie with Jenkins and Portal.
Savannah Country Day and Calvary, both undefeated, currently are in a tie for first place having yet to play each other this season. Claxton and ECI are currently tied for last place.
The Redskins have shown more control and aggressiveness at the plate than in previous years.
Sophomore Samantha Howard currently leads the ‘Skins in hitting with a batting average holding steady in the 400’s. She is followed closely by Senior Tara Miles.
Senior Ashley Barfield is consistently performing well at the plate while maintaining an ERA below 1.00 on the mound.
Senior Lindsay Seger rounds out the top four batters. A switch in the batting order has put Freshman Bridgett Bacon in the running for a top hitting position as she has begun to effectively put the bat on the ball.
Coach Covington’s admiration of her team shows in her praise of them.
"We have a great group of seniors," she said. They have proven themselves to be confident team leaders. All of these girls - the entire team - LOVE to play softball. They KNOW the game. They are a close group. They strive every day at practice to better themselves and our team. This is what will take us over the top. Desire, committment and, most importantly, determination."
In Thursday’s game against the Portal Panthers, Barfield took the mound for the Redskins leading her team to an 8-7 win. The Redskins took an early lead in the first inning going ahead of the Panthers by one on two line drive hits. Bacon slammed a hard line drive hit to right center for a double and was batted in on Howard’s single line drive to centerfield.
The Ladyskins held the lead into the third inning when the Panthers scored two runs on two Redskin errors. A rally began in the fourth inning as senior Meghan, first at bat, slammed a deep fly ball to centerfield for a double. Freshman Taylor Stanfield followed with a bunted single, and continued to second taking advantage of the Panthers failure to defend that base. Freshman Amanda Williams’ well placed ground ball to right centerfield gave Shuman the opportunity to cross home plate once again giving the ‘Skins the lead. But the celebration was short lived as the Panther centerfielder threw home to the catcher to snag Stanfield on the slide.
The catcher’s throw to third shut down any additional hopes for a Redskin rally as Williams was tagged for the final out. The Redskin lead would hold through the top of the fifth giving them a second chance at the hitting rally they had begun the inning before.
Six hits and four runs later the Panthers would finally shut the Redskins down. The celebration was a short one as the Redskin lead vanished when the Panthers began their own rally with seven hits and five runs to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning. The tension mounted through out the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh as neither team was able to extend their lead.
Howard led off for the Redskins in the bottom of the seventh inning with a well hit stand up triple to centerfield.
Miles’ well placed sac fly to right field was all Howard needed to score and give the Skins the lead to end the game.
The Redskins will travel to Jenkins County on Thursday to face the Eagles for the second time this season. Their first meeting ended in a 4-3 Redskin loss.
The Redskins will have Thursday off before facing Savannah Country Day on Tuesday of next week.