FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
Lady Tigers aim for second straight state title
“Our season looks very promising. We’re hitting and playing
defense well, and we have some movement and depth in the line-up. We’re
young, but we also have some talent,” says South Georgia Colleg Athletic
director and head softball coach Rob Brunel.
The Lady Tigers are about to start the 2009 campaign, and they are doing so
as the defending state champions. However, only four players on the ’09 team
are returning from the state champion squad. Those four must step up and
provide veteran leadership for the younger players, and they’ve got make
their statement pretty quickly. The first month of the season is going to be
brutal on the Lady Tigers. “We play seven games in three days early in the
season. We also have tough tournaments in Dothan, Aiken and at FCCJ. We’ll
know a lot then,” says Coach Brunel.
Outfielder Crystal Greer, pitcher Shannon Carter, second baseman Megan
Hartley and catcher Brandy Evans are back from last year’s team. Carter will
be Coach Brunel’s go-to pitcher. She had a solid season pitching behind
state tournament MVP Mariko Nomura in 2008. She is a talented pitcher who
throws quality innings. Behind her are three freshmen: Jessica Cooper, Josie
Page and Tiffany Davies. “They are throwing well, but we’ve got to fine-tune
a few things,” says Coach Brunel.
Greer anchors the outfield, which will be one of the fastest in the state.
She will hold down center field, while Halle Browning of Alma is set to
start in left. Tara Miles, who came to SGC as a shortstop, will play right.
The off-season has already been a challenge for the Lady Tigers. Miles’
transition from the infield to the outfield is but one move Coach Brunel has
had to make. A series of injuries has forced the coach to shift some of his
players. That they can make these transitions is a testament to their talent
and belief in Coach Brunel’s system, but it still makes things difficult.
Cecily DeMarco has been moved from third base to short. She’s a solid
infielder, and Coach Brunel expects her to provide a key leadership role
from the middle of the infield. “In fact, everyone has to be a leader in
some facet of the game,” he says. DeMarco was a smooth-fielding third
baseman who can make the adjustment to short. If one part of her game needs
work, it’s turning the double play from short. And she’s been working
tirelessly on fixing that. Morgan Vereline will play first, with Hartley in
at second. Evans is Coach Brunel’s catcher, and she should do a good job of
managing the game with Carter on the mound.
The conference has never had a repeat winner, so Coach Brunel and his team
understand the work they have cut out for them. Still, he likes his chances.
“Overall, we’re a little quicker this year than last. We’re as good or
better defensively. The big question is pitching. Last year, we had two
solid pitchers. This year, we have one. But our freshman pitchers have the
potential to do very well. They’re just untested right now,” says Coach
Brunel.
The Lady Tigers kick off their quest for a second consecutive state title
Sunday afternoon with a pre-season scrimmage at 1 p.m. in Douglas against
the Georgia Heat. The regular season begins on Feb. 13 when the team travels
to face Georgia Military College. SGC doesn’t play at home until Feb. 27,
when Middle Georgia comes to town.
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About South Georgia College
South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu)
was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System
of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives
students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close
collaboration with faculty.
