ECHS continues climb among softball elite programs

Junior Ansleigh Giordano keyed Effingham County's success in Columbus with two wins on the mound and a .400 batting average. (Mark Lastinger for the Effingham Herald.)

Junior Ansleigh Giordano keyed Effingham County's success in Columbus with two wins on the mound and a .400 batting average. (Mark Lastinger for the Effingham Herald.)

Published: Nov 5, 2024, 6:52 PM

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

Effingham County’s softball team took another step toward residing with the best in the state this year.

After winning one game in Columbus a year ago, the Rebels won twice in the Elite Eight double-elimination Class 5A state championships to place fourth.

And they just missed their goal of playing on the final day after losing a heartbreaker to River Ridge on a seventh-inning home run.

“I really thought we’d have a chance to play for a championship but finishing fourth is nothing to hang your head about,” ECHS coach Brad Thompson said.

The Rebels ended the 2024 season with a 24-6 record – percentage-wise (.800) their best since 2019 (25-5, .833). Along the way, they won a subregion championship and got revenge for an extra-inning region championship loss to South Effingham by eliminating the Mustangs at state.

As a No. 2 seed from Region 1, ECHS defeated Alexander in the first round of state before going on the road and taking 2 of 3 from Region 8 champion Loganville.

In Columbus, the Rebels opened by defeating Seckinger 6-1 on Oct. 30. Ansleigh Giordano surrendered just five hits and one run in getting the complete-game win. She struck out 10 and didn’t walk a batter in a game that was a nailbiter until ECHS scored four in the seventh inning to provide some breathing room.

Braylin Vincent, who hit .417 in the tournament, was the offensive star with three hits and two runs batted in against Seckinger. Gabie Hill also had two RBIs.

The next day, Lassiter, the Region 6 champion and top-ranked team in ScoreAtlanta’s Class 5A top-10 pre-playoff rankings, beat the Rebels 9-2. Thompson said the game turned on a key defensive play when Shelby Zeigler was robbed of a three-run home run on a leaping catch as the outfielder toppled over the fence. Olivia Morgan had three of ECHS’ eight hits.

Effingham County coach Brad Thompson led the Rebels to a fourth-place finish at the Class 5A softball championship in Columbus last week. ECHS ended the season with a 24-6 record. (Mark Lastinger for the Effingham Herald.)

The loss set up an elimination game with South Effingham in Columbus for the second year in a row. The Mustang won in extra innings in 2023, but this time ECHS got off to a good start and pulled away with a five-run third inning. Giordano, who had hits in all four tournament games, had three hits and was the winning pitcher. Gracie LaFleur and Zeigler added two hits apiece. Jordan Tarver smacked a two-run homer and Zeigler had two RBIs.

“The girls felt good about it and it was a good win for the (Rebel) community,” Thompson said. “It was one of those humps we hadn’t gotten over.”

Thompson probably wishes the Rebels could have saved a couple of runs for River Ridge a few hours later. LaFleur had a two-run homer to tie the game in the first inning and Giordano’s RBI single put ECHS ahead in the second inning, but Brooke Beam of River Ridge tied the game with a home run in the fifth inning and won it for the Knights 4-3 with a homer in the seventh inning.

“We hit the ball and had opportunities, but we just fell short against some pretty good teams,” Thompson said.

NOTE: Effingham County’s second baseman Megan Coleman has been selected to play in the Georgia Dugout Club’s All-Star fast-pitch softball game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Truist Park.

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Mustangs Show Grit, Look Ahead After Tough Opener

Freshman QB Liam Coburn powers through the defense for tough yardage. His play helped spark the Mustangs. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

South vs. New Hampstead — Freshman QB Liam Coburn powers through the defense for tough yardage. His play helped spark the Mustangs. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Donald Heath

Updated: Aug 17, 2025, 10:27 AM

Published: Aug 16, 2025, 4:39 PM

GUYTON, Ga. – South Effingham freshman quarterback Liam Coburn decided to do something about his team’s struggling offense Friday night.

Facing third-and-long early in the fourth quarter, Coburn, not known for scrambling, took off out of the pocket and hit a defensive back so hard the defender’s helmet flew off.

The Mustangs bench erupted, and the hit provided some much-needed energy.

“I think our team is in a much better spot,” South coach Loren Purvis said. “They care. They understand what it takes.”

The Mustangs couldn’t overcome a sluggish start and lost their season opener to New Hampstead 14-6. But the display of passion — often missing during the winless 2024 season — was readily apparent.

“We have nine more games left, and I think we’re going to build off this,” Coburn said. “This is a different team than in the past.”

A pregame downpour and flashes of lightning in the area delayed kickoff for about an hour and a half. The game ended at 11:52 p.m.

South Effingham vs. New Hampstead — South Effingham’s Alex Cabrera chases down a New Hampstead ball carrier. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Defense Keeps Game Close

Once the game started, South’s defense kept things close with four stops inside the red zone. The offense eventually scored on Maddox Vasquez’s 2-yard touchdown run with 5:58 left.

But the Mustangs couldn’t stop Phoenix running back Christian Kinlaw, who scored on runs of 31 and 20 yards and caught a two-point conversion from quarterback Erik Hockman to build a 14-0 lead through three quarters.

Kinlaw did most of his damage during the final three quarters, running for 160 yards on 18 carries. A year ago, New Hampstead rang up 56 points against South Effingham.

“I was very proud of the defense,” Mustangs middle linebacker Corey Woods said. “I think we took a major step as a defense. We had more energy. I love that. We all did our one eleven.”

Woods explained the team phrase “doing your one eleven” means there are 11 defenders on the field. You do your one job and trust your other 10 teammates to do theirs.

Special Teams, Offense Struggle

But South's special teams and offense couldn’t find traction. Special teams missed a short field goal and an extra-point kick after a touchdown, had a snap hit an upback during a punt formation, and surrendered an onside kick during a kickoff.

The offense had just two first downs until the final drive of the third quarter. Coburn’s 10-yard scramble and big hit—and a subsequent helmet-to-helmet 15-yard penalty assessed to the New Hampstead defense—highlighted South’s 11-play, 54-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter.

“I rolled out and saw a dude and I thought, ‘I’m going to get my lick on him.’ It got the energy going,” Coburn said. “We got a little momentum going, and we were gaining confidence as the game went on.”

Heart-Stopping Moment

After the touchdown drive, South’s defense stopped New Hampstead at South's 19. On the Mustangs’ next offensive play, Woods just missed making a big play when he couldn’t haul in Coburn’s pass after gaining a step on the defender on a fly pattern.

“I’m going to move on from it,” Woods said. “I’m going to catch more balls in practice, and the next time I get that opportunity, I’ll be good.”

South had a last possession deep in its own territory in the final minute. Mustangs wide receiver Landyn White caught a short pass, took a hit on the sidelines, and laid motionless before responding to medical personnel, Purvis said. White was taken off the field on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

It was a sobbing moment that shook up players and coaches. Purvis tried his best to put the game in perspective in the silent locker room.

“The kids came out and competed. You can build on that,” he said.

Looking Ahead

South now has a bye week next Friday before traveling to Toombs County on Aug. 29.