SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – It’s the natural progression for high school athletics – seniors eventually graduate and returning players move up.

Effingham County’s softball team begins a reboot without the familiar names that knew the way to Columbus for four straight years. An eager group is ready to replace them.

“Everybody loses seniors, so everyone has to build themselves back up. You just have to trust the process,” said Rebels senior Ava Wiley, who vaults into the pitching spotlight after four-year standout Ansleigh Giordano headed to Augusta University.

Building on success

A year ago, ECHS (27-9) won its subregion, then stunned South Effingham to claim the region championship.

State tournament series victories against Apalachee and Seckinger followed. The latter went three grueling games before a sizzling line drive down the third-base line was snared by senior Shelby Ziegler, who stepped on the bag for a thrilling game-ending double play and a 6-5 win that sent the Rebels to Columbus – site of the double-elimination Elite Eight state championship.

“I was hired to win 6A ball games. It’s a big classification, and it’s not easy,” ECHS coach Brad Thompson said. “The last four years, we’ve had some success. We’ve been to Columbus, and now we’re not just satisfied to be there.

“These girls who are stepping into those seniors’ shoes are ready to roll. We had a great summer. The weight room was outstanding. The girls are faster and stronger.”

Giordano, Ziegler, Player of the Year Gracie LaFleur and Gabie Hill are gone. The next wave is coming.

“We lost a pretty good group, but with the freshmen we have coming in and the knowledge we gained, we should still be pretty good,” senior first baseman Jenny Parker said.

Pitching transition

Pitching will be key.

Wiley, a first-team all-subregion pitcher, performed well down the stretch last season. She pitched a two-hitter in a 9-1 series-clinching win in the first round of state and earned the victory in the must-win Game 2 against Seckinger.

In Columbus, she showed poise with four straight scoreless innings in relief against Loganville before a disastrous seventh inning.

“In Columbus, it showed me what I can do,” Wiley said. “There’s a lot of responsibility, but I think I can handle it. I’m not carrying all the weight on this team.”

Freshman Laila Boyd, a power pitcher who throws in the low 60s (mph), will be asked to contribute immediately, while sophomores Alyssa Roy and Dallas Mikell provide depth.

New leaders emerge

Offensively, the rising seniors move into leadership roles.

Mady Reagan, an outfielder who batted cleanup, hit .417 in subregion play while earning first-team all-subregion honors in her first year on varsity.

Shortstop Cheyenne Hart (.333 in subregion play, second-team all-subregion), second baseman Kamryn Hall (three hits, a home run and five RBIs against Loganville in Columbus) and Parker (who had a Jackie Robinson-like moment scoring from second base on a wild pitch against South Effingham) all have playmaking experience.

Potential first-year starters will be asked to adapt quickly. Sophomore slap hitter Abby McCormick, a cousin of Gabie Hill, sophomore Jocelyn Bettinger and junior Larsyn Harrell are competing for outfield positions.

Junior Zoey Edrington, who hit about .450 on JV last season, is a leading candidate to start at catcher. Sam Hill will get playing time at first base, and Riley Bracken moves up from JV to play third base.

“The people who played in front of me definitely taught me a lot and pushed me to work harder,” Bracken said. “I think a lot of people thought we’re going to be worse this year, but the seniors now are great leaders, and they’re not going to let that happen.”

Chasing Columbus

Thompson said his veteran assistants – Sarah Schofield (10 years) and Zach Wilson (three years) – also keep the team on course.

“Four years in a row going to Columbus, but it doesn’t just happen,” Thompson said. “Everyone wants to go, but you have to be what we call ‘Columbus-ready.’”

TEAM SNAPSHOT

Head Coach: Brad Thompson (104-29, fifth year)

2025 Record: 27-9, 8-1 Region 1-5A North (first place)

Key Returnees – P Ava Wiley, OF Mady Reagan, SS Cheyenne Hart. 1B Jenny Parker

Key Losses: P Ansleigh Giordano, C Gracie LaFleur, 3B Shelby Zeigler

Five Can’t Miss Games

Aug. 6 vs Appling Co. (Region 3-2A champion, advanced to Columbus

Aug. 20 vs. Wayne Co. (Region 1-4A champion, won 26 games, won 2 in Columbus)

Sept. 14 vs. Richmond Hill (20-11 record in 6A, won 1 game in Columbus)

Sept. 22 and 24 vs. South Effingham (1st game in Springfield, 2nd in Guyton, Mustangs advanced to 5A state championship in Columbus)

Oct. 7 vs. Grovetown (26-7 record in 6A, advanced to state).