Veterans underclassmen got the opportunity to learn on the go during region finale against Lee County

KATHLEEN — The future of the Veterans softball program got to experience some wind under their wings on Tuesday in a region doubleheader against Lee County.

Outside of additional padding to their Post Season Rankings, the makeup games between the Lady Warhawks (15-12, 11-7 Region 2-6A) and the Lady Trojans (24-3, 16-1 Region) were inconsequential for the region standings. 

Even before their 7-4 (in nine innings) and 6-1 victories, Lee County was already guaranteed their first region championship since 2021.

So, likely in part because of the remaining games this week, after a 140-pitch, nine-inning effort from Cadence Scott in Game 1, the freshmen got a chance in Game 2.

Freshmen Abigail Stokes, Brylee Reynolds and sophomore Ella Huddleston all got a chance in the circle.

“I think it’s good to see good pitching and for our pitchers to have to go through that lineup,” said Veterans coach Jeff Sans. “They can hit through the lineup, and I thought our pitchers did a great job. They gave up a few bad pitches here and there in some bad spots that put us in a bind, but they battled for it.”

Stokes started and had a hard time finding the strike zone at first. Her first seven pitches were balls, and after a strikeout, she gave up a three-run homer.

She found her groove a little bit after that. She didn’t give up any more runs and only one more hit, and she seemed more comfortable putting the ball in the zone. Sans pulled her after that, partially because of a nagging ankle injury, but having that experience against a great hitting team was invaluable.

“I think it was great for her, she did a good job in the second [inning],” Sans said. “Her ankle was hurting a little bit, and I didn’t know that. That’s kind of why we pulled her. But her and Brylee did a good job, two ninth graders, that’s good for the future and good for going to the playoffs.”

Reynolds replaced her and went three innings, giving up two hits, two earned runs and a walk with one strikeout. Nearly 60% of her pitches were strikes, she drew plenty of fly balls and the defense took care of the rest.

Sans put Maddy Kinkade in after Lee County earned a walk and a single to start the sixth inning, but before the side was over Scott returned to finish it out.

Huddleston took over with two outs in the seventh inning, and gave up a double and a ground out in her brief time.

Scott has been an ironwoman for the last two years, but when she graduates the responsibility will fall on these pitchers. Next year’s team will see sweeping changes at a lot of positions.

“I think the two freshmen are going to have to really take over the reins there,” Sans said. “Innings like this are valuable for them, just their confidence. They’re building it.”

The trio of underclassmen had the Lady Warhawks in a position to win Game 2, and Game 1 was winnable, too. However, Veterans’ hitting woes are lingering.

“Offensively, we didn’t hit. We ain’t hit in two weeks. We gotta figure something out,” Sans said.

The Lady Warhawks were 7-for-34 (.205) in Game 1 and were unable to put the game away in extra innings. They struck out just as many times as they hit the ball (seven).

Kinkade was responsible for their only two hits in Game 2 in a 2-for-23 (.086) outing. With the postseason approaching, Sans has acknowledged the need to overcome the slump soon.

“I think we get a little tight in big games, it’s kind of happened all year,” Sans said. “You can be a little tight on defense and a little tight in the circle sometimes, but you got to be loose in the box to hit. We just got to realize that we can do it, go out there and be who you are.”

UP NEXT

Veterans will round out the regular season against ACE and Schley County.