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Local football teams get acclimated to the heat; next step, put on pads
Several Effingham County High School football players converge at the team's portable water station during a recent practice. In accordance with Georgia High School Association rules designed for heat acclimation, prep football players must attend five straight practices before putting on pads July 31. (Donald Heath/Special for the Effingham Herald.)
Published: Jul 25, 2023, 8:02 PM
By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
SPRINGFIELD – Discussing heat acclimation almost seems like an afterthought for the high school football teams at Effingham County and South Effingham.
Throughout the summer, both squads have been practicing three or four times a week (except the dead weeks of Memorial Day and the Fourth of July).
And it's been a hot summer, particularly during the last month. If anything, the Rebels and Mustangs have gotten accustomed to the heat.
But in accordance with the Georgia High School Association, each football player in the state must go through a heat acclimation period of five consecutive days before putting on equipment – helmets, shoulder pads and padded pants – on July 31.
Softball, volleyball and cross country also begin their first practices on July 31, but aren't scrutinized for heat acclimation.
"I know people who aren't out in the heat all the time say, ‘I don't know how they do it’,” SEHS coach Loren Purvis said. "When you're (practicing) every day, dealing with the heat becomes easier. Every good program in the state has been working out in the summer, but you still don't take the heat for granted. This is Georgia. It's hot and it's dangerous."
Purvis says he's in agreement with the GHSA's safety-first protocol.
According to a study conducted by Texas A&M, at least 50 high school players have died from heat stroke in the past 25 years. The same article pointed out that nine of the 10 hottest years ever recorded have occurred since 2012.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the US overall has averaged more than 700 heat-related deaths every year from 2004-2018.
In 2001, Minnesota Viking offensive lineman Korey Stringer died from exertional heat stroke.
Heat can't be taken lightly.
ECHS' linemen recently participated in a padded camp at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. SEHS attended a padded camp at Camden County.
But except for the rare padded camps (schools are allowed two camps in the summer), local players have been working out in just shorts. They've also been working out in the morning when temperature and humidity are lower.
It's the first step to becoming acclimated to the heat.
"We appreciate the GHSA allowing us to do the things we do to get ready for the season," ECHS coach John Ford said.
As part of the GHSA's safety precautions, schools are required to monitor the weather through wet bulb globe temperature, a device which provides a reading that factors in temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direct sun.
An adverse reading could limit the equipment a player can use during that period or, worst case scenario for coaches, could halt practice altogether.
But expect the heat and the intensity to ratchet up when pads come on, Purvis said.
Players get stronger from lifting weights all summer. Stronger players are more confident. More confident players are less likely to shy away from physical play.
"I love the summer and its relaxed pace but there's a certain level of intensity that goes with putting on pads that can't be matched in shorts, and I'm looking forward to seeing that," Purvis said.
Effingham County Tops South Effingham for Region Softball Title
Ansleigh Giordano Delivers Two Clutch Performances as Rebels Capture First Title Since 2021
Effingham County players sprint from the dugout to celebrate after Cheyenne Hart scores the winning run on Ava Wiley’s sacrifice fly, giving the Rebels a 4-3 walk-off victory over South Effingham to capture the Region 1-5A championship. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)
Donald Heath
Updated: Oct 5, 2025, 12:18 PM
Published: Oct 5, 2025, 3:06 AM
GUYTON, Ga. – Effingham County coach Brad Thompson says pitcher is a special position in softball.
“You have to be able to handle pressure. Maybe that’s why they put a circle around it,” Thompson said.
Thompson put Ansleigh Giordano in the circle Saturday, and the right-hander came through in the Region 1-5A Final Four tournament at South Effingham. She overpowered Glynn Academy with a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 semifinal victory, then came back later in the afternoon to steady herself after a shaky start and beat rival South Effingham 4-3. The win delivered the Rebels’ first region championship since 2021.
With the game on the line, Ava Wiley came through — her sacrifice fly to left sealed the Rebels’ walk-off win and the region crown. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)
Ava Wiley’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning gave ECHS a walk-off victory over the Mustangs and shifted bragging rights back to the Rebels, who won a season-opening matchup with South before losing the rematch about a month later.
By advancing to the finals, both ECHS and SEHS earned home-field advantage in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs, which begin Oct. 13 with a best-of-three series. The Rebels (23-6) will be the No. 1 seed from Region 1. The Mustangs (18-3) are seeded second.
South Effingham catcher Danni Lynn waits for the throw as Cheyenne Hart slides in with the winning run. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)
Giordano shines in the circle
“Last year, we couldn’t get it done. We didn’t show up,” Giordano said. “This time we wanted it more. We’ve been winning, and it feels like we have it figured out. We just have to stay on that path.”
ECHS, ranked third in Class 5A by ScoreAtlanta, extended its winning streak to nine. In preparation for the tournament, Thompson said he gave Giordano some rest last week — and it paid off.
The Augusta University commit responded with more velocity on her fastball and dominated the Red Terrors, who never advanced a runner past second base. Glynn had split two regular-season games with the Rebels.
Against South, Giordano relied on grit. During the first four innings, she surrendered 11 hits but stranded eight runners — six in scoring position.
“This is a gritty bunch of girls,” Thompson said.
That includes their coach. Thompson was struck by a softball in the batting cage the day before and broke his jaw but declined surgery until after Saturday’s games.
Ansleigh Giordano stares in from the mound during the Region 1-5A Final Four, dominating Glynn Academy and South Effingham to lead Effingham County to the region championship. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)
Rebels find ways to score
After falling behind 1-0, ECHS struck for three runs in the second inning, highlighted by Jenny Parker’s daring baserunning. She beat out a squeeze bunt to tie the game and, seeing no one covering second base, never stopped running and turned it into a double.
A wild pitch brought in the Rebels’ second run, and Parker — noticing the pitcher wasn’t covering home — scored from second base for the third.
South tied the game in the third on Cadi Hendry’s two-run single. The Mustangs were hoping for more with the bases loaded and one out, but Giordano pitched out of further trouble. In the fourth inning, South had runners on second and third with one out — and again, Giordano shut the door.
In the seventh, with the game tied 3-3, the Rebels loaded the bases with one out. Wiley lifted a fly ball to left field in foul territory that was caught, but Cheyenne Hart tagged and scored the winning run.
“The third time was our time. We’re happy to beat them again — and beat Glynn Academy again, too,” Wiley said.
Jenny Parker’s daring baserunning pays off as she races from second to score the Rebels’ third run, beating the tag from South Effingham catcher Danni Lynn. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)
Mustangs move on with lessons learned
South finished with 13 hits but went hitless in its final seven chances with runners in scoring position.
“This was a tough loss. We don’t have anybody but ourselves to blame for this one,” Mustangs coach Adam Newland said. “At the same time, we have to move on quickly. We have the playoffs coming up. We have to coach better. We have to play better. We have to focus on next week.”
The fired-up Rebels cheer wildly in the dugout, celebrating their determination and walk-off win over rival South Effingham to capture the Region 1-5A title. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)
Mustangs cruise past Greenbrier
In the first game, SEHS pounded out 15 hits and run-ruled Greenbrier 12-4 in a game closer than the final score indicated.
South led 6-4 before batting around in a six-run sixth inning. Sydney Minshall, who started the frame with a walk, ended the game when her infield grounder led to an errant throw allowing the Mustangs’ 12th run to score.
All nine SEHS starters had at least one hit. Cheniyah Jackson and Makenzi Polk each had three. Danni Lynn added two hits and two RBIs, Minshall had two hits, and Alyssa Martin doubled and drove in two.
In the Region 1-5A semifinals against Greenbrier, South Effingham’s Cheniyah Jackson rips one of her three hits as the Mustangs’ offense erupts in a 12-4 win. Jackson and Makenzi Polk each had three hits to help send South to the championship game. (Gilbert Miller / Effingham Herald)
Rebels dominate Glynn in semifinal
Effingham County had little trouble in the second game, defeating eighth-ranked Glynn Academy behind Giordano’s gem.
The teams had split two regular-season games, but this time Giordano struck out seven, walked none, and allowed just two hits — one an infield single.
Shelby Zeigler’s two-out, two-run single in the first inning gave the Rebels all the runs they needed.
Hart, who had two hits and two RBIs, added a run-scoring single in the second inning and an RBI double in the fourth.
Giordano did the rest, recording five 1-2-3 innings and never allowing a Glynn baserunner past second base.
The Red Terrors topped Greenbrier 7-0 in the consolation game to earn the region’s No. 3 seed in the state tournament. Greenbrier will be the No. 4 seed.
Shelby Zeigler cracks a two-out, two-run single in the first inning against Glynn Academy in the semifinals, helping the Rebels take an early lead and set the tone for their push toward the championship. (Gilbert Miller / Effingham Herald)
Effingham County's lineup posted in the dugout before the semifinal clash with Glynn Academy. (Gilbert Miller / Effingham Herald)
