Middle Georgia spoils Swamp Fox tournament run

May 2, 2011

The Waycross College Swamp Foxes’ bid for a first-ever GCAA softball tournament title was spoiled April 30 as the Middle Georgia College Warriors used a five-run third inning to pull away from the Swamp Foxes, 6-0.

The loss eliminated WC from the double-elimination tournament after the Swamp Foxes lost to top seed Darton College April 29, 12-3.

“We just couldn’t get any breaks in that third inning,” said head coach Bryan Hartley. “They (Middle Georgia) seemed to put the ball in the right place during almost every at bat.”

The Warriors opened the inning with a single, hit batsman, and a wild pitch to place runners in scoring position with no outs. Middle Georgia drove in two runners on the next three hits to grab a quick 2-0 lead.

A crucial double play followed when Nicole Williams fielded a fly ball in left field and threw a runner out at home.

The Warriors got two additional RBI singles and took advantage of a Swamp Fox error to extend their lead to 5-0 before the end of the inning. They added one more run on a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Hartley said he and the Swamp Foxes were disappointed to see their tournament run end quickly. Even though a conference title was not meant to be, he said the Swamp Foxes gained some valuable experience that will benefit them next season.

“At the end of the Middle Georgia game, I told the girls we now have tournament experience in three different areas. We played well as a team (vs. Georgia Military College), we fell apart as a team (vs. Darton College), and we couldn’t catch a break as a team (vs. Middle Georgia),” he said.

During the tournament, Hartley said his team’s bond grew even stronger than it had all season and the players are focused on preparing for 2011-2012.

“The girls already have a mission for next year,” he said. “With the team we have now and the additions we will be picking up, we’ll be back and even stronger next season.”

Hartley said other GCAA coaches and fans noticed his team’s unity, not only during the regular season and the tournament, but off the field as well.

“The Georgia Perimeter coach talked to us after the Middle Georgia game,” he said. “He told the girls they showed a lot of class all year long. He said he was really surprised at what we were able to put together in our first season.”

With his sights now set on the offseason, Hartley took time to reflect on 2010-2011 and the improvement each player has realized since the team’s preseason schedule last fall.

“I’m proud of the work ethic our team showed all year,” he said. “Each player has gotten better since day one, and they want to get even better than that. Ten of the girls have already told me they plan to take classes this summer so they can workout and stay ahead academically. To me, that shows a lot of dedication to the program.”

Waycross College has been a proud member of the University System of Georgia since the College’s founding in 1976.

Kayla Calhoun flies out to second base in the top of the third inning against Middle Georgia College April 30.

Rachel White (#2) blocks home plate to make a crucial play in the bottom of the third inning against Middle Georgia College.