New Bryan County softball coach Jessica Cooper waited 12 years for her first head coaching job—actually the longtime Richmond Hill assistant was the Wildcats’ interim head coach for one season—and a gal named Debby is now making her debut a tad longer.
Cooper and the Redskins were scheduled to open the season last Friday against Jefferson but the threat of rain and lightning in the area ended those plans. A Thursday game with Bulloch Academy this week was also ruled out.
“We’re scheduled to play a doubleheader at Jackson on Saturday,” Cooper said. “We hope to play Jackson in the morning (11 a.m.) and then Mary Persons.”
If that doesn’t work out the Redskins would then play their season opener at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when they host Metter in a Region 3A-DII game. With eight teams in the region—Savannah High and Savannah Classical do not sponsor softball—Bryan County will play 14 region games.
The Redskins do have a game under their belt as they dropped an 11-5 decision to Richmond Hill last week in a pre-season scrimmage but still it was an exhibition game where Cooper was able to experiment with her lineup.
Ideally the Redskins would have a few games under their belt before jumping into region play against the Tigers, the first of three games in three days. The following day they’re at Bradwell and then home for a region matchup with Screven County.
Cooper will open the season with a roster of only 12 players. Lauren Sanderson, perhaps the team’s most versatile player, is the lone senior.
Despite the lack of numbers and youth Cooper is optimistic about her team’s chances.
“We’ve got a lot of growth to come,” Cooper said. “We’ve got a young base. The Richmond Hill game was the first time we had all 12 together at the same time.
“The most impressive thing is they’re buying into me and the new coaches,” Cooper said. “They’re listening, they’re coachable, they’re pulling rope in the same direction and they have the same goals: everyone is in it to win it. I think the future is bright.”
In addition to Cooper the Redskins staff includes Kyle Hill, April Meeks and Kelsey Leggett.
Offensively the Redskins will be led by senior shortstop Liz Harvey and junior Camryn Parker, two of the top players in the area regardless of classification. Each had four hits in the game with Richmond Hill.
Parker, an all-region pick last year as a center fielder, is now at third base while junior Abigail Lee is at second with first base being split between sophomore Emily Johnson and junior Eris Deal. Both Johnson and Deal pitch and when one is pitching the other plays first. Lee will also see time in the circle.
Sanderson, who can also play the infield and outfield, will share catching duties with freshman Peyton Scott who will also see duty in the outfield along with sophomore Hayden Deeck and freshman Gracie Finch.
“At Richmond Hill we went up 2-0 and then had a couple of bad innings,” Cooper said. “We fought back at the end which makes me feel pretty good about where we’re going to go.
“We’re going to have to grind it out in August and September and keep everyone healthy. We want to be healthy and play well going into October.”
Cooper knows what it takes to be successful: as the pitching coach at Richmond hill under coaches Chris Jenkins and Angie Hummeldorf the Wildcats made the state playoffs every season.
The Redskins’ schedule:
Aug. 10: at Jackson, 11 a.m.; vs Mary Persons, 1 p.m.; 13: Metter*; 14: at Bradwell Institute; 15: Screven County*; 19: Bradwell Institute; 20: at Jenkins County*; 22: at Claxton*; 27: McIntosh County Academy*; 29: at Portal*.
Sept. 4: at Islands; 5: ECI*; 10: at Metter*; 12: at Screven County*; 16: at Long County; 17: Jenkins County*; 19: Claxton*; 24: at McIntosh County Academy*; 25: Islands.
Oct. 1: at ECI*; 2: Portal*; 3: at Southeast Bulloch; 9: Long County; 10: at Liberty County.
*--Region 3A-DII game. All home games start at 5:30 p.m.