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April 2011
Georgia Christian Wraps Basketball Season as Region Champ
by Rachel Swilley, GCS senior • photography by Janet Lineberger
The Georgia Christian basketball season ended Friday, February 25. The Generals’ hard work advanced Georgia Christian to the Final Four state playoffs in Milledgeville for the first time in five years. After a hard-fought game against a tough, aggressive team from Dawson Street Christian School, Georgia Christian fell short and headed home.
Overall, the Generals had a successful season, finishing 19-8, winning the Region 3A championship and cruising through the first two rounds of state to the Final Four. “Goals were met and our seniors did an awesome job laying a foundation for our younger players that we will build on in the years to come,” says head coach Kent Copeland. The boys’ 15-point win over Westwood for the region title was an exciting accomplishment for Georgia Christian fans and was the first boys basketball region title won by the Generals in the past five years.
In the first round of state play, the Generals competed against Lafayette Christian School. GCS picked up an easy win and advanced to the second round to play Nathaneal Greene Academy. This team proved to be no match for the Generals as they pushed past NGA with a 15-point victory. In the week leading up to the Final Four, GCS coaches did their best to prepare the Generals for Dawson Street Christian. In the end, GCS fell short and their 2010-2011 season came to a close. “This was a fantastic season, especially due to our excellent coaching staff and all the help from my assistant athletic director,” says Copeland.
The Generals will graduate seniors Austin Holton, Matt Martin and Andres Gil this year. “These boys showed excellent leadership and ability throughout the season,” Copeland says. “As our seniors move on, we will be looking for our younger ones to step up and fill those leadership roles.”
The Lady Generals were also successful in postseason tournament play, advancing to the Elite Eight. As another basketball season ends at GCS, players and fans eagerly await a promising baseball season.
by Rachel Swilley, GCS senior • photography by Janet Lineberger
The Georgia Christian basketball season ended Friday, February 25. The Generals’ hard work advanced Georgia Christian to the Final Four state playoffs in Milledgeville for the first time in five years. After a hard-fought game against a tough, aggressive team from Dawson Street Christian School, Georgia Christian fell short and headed home.
Overall, the Generals had a successful season, finishing 19-8, winning the Region 3A championship and cruising through the first two rounds of state to the Final Four. “Goals were met and our seniors did an awesome job laying a foundation for our younger players that we will build on in the years to come,” says head coach Kent Copeland. The boys’ 15-point win over Westwood for the region title was an exciting accomplishment for Georgia Christian fans and was the first boys basketball region title won by the Generals in the past five years.
In the first round of state play, the Generals competed against Lafayette Christian School. GCS picked up an easy win and advanced to the second round to play Nathaneal Greene Academy. This team proved to be no match for the Generals as they pushed past NGA with a 15-point victory. In the week leading up to the Final Four, GCS coaches did their best to prepare the Generals for Dawson Street Christian. In the end, GCS fell short and their 2010-2011 season came to a close. “This was a fantastic season, especially due to our excellent coaching staff and all the help from my assistant athletic director,” says Copeland.
The Generals will graduate seniors Austin Holton, Matt Martin and Andres Gil this year. “These boys showed excellent leadership and ability throughout the season,” Copeland says. “As our seniors move on, we will be looking for our younger ones to step up and fill those leadership roles.”
The Lady Generals were also successful in postseason tournament play, advancing to the Elite Eight. As another basketball season ends at GCS, players and fans eagerly await a promising baseball season.
Georgia Christian Kicks Off Baseball Season
by Madison DeWeese, GCS senior • photography by Vicky Copeland
“I am interested to see how this year’s team comes together,” says baseball coach Donald Dawkins. “We are replacing three key players from last year with some very capable players talent-wise, but they have not been through the fire yet.”
This year’s team has some youth. “If we come together and everyone embraces their roles, then we should have a very successful season,” Dawkins says. “With all of the talent we have on the team, we are going to need our seniors, Matt Martin and Austin Holton, to step up and lead this team, and I know they are ready to do that.”
The Generals’ roster also includes seniors Brad Rayford and Andres Gil; juniors Ryan King, Jordan Greene and Woo Jang; sophomores C.J. Lynch, Dillon Greene, Christian Moore, Walker Davis and Ben Olbricht; and freshmen Cole Seasholtz, Ethan Boyd and Kyle Watkins.
The Generals plan to be powerful at the plate, quick on the bases and solid on the field. The team is working hard to achieve its goals under the leadership of head coach Donald Dawkins and assistant coaches Chuck DeWeese and Curtis Lynch.
by Madison DeWeese, GCS senior • photography by Vicky Copeland
“I am interested to see how this year’s team comes together,” says baseball coach Donald Dawkins. “We are replacing three key players from last year with some very capable players talent-wise, but they have not been through the fire yet.”
This year’s team has some youth. “If we come together and everyone embraces their roles, then we should have a very successful season,” Dawkins says. “With all of the talent we have on the team, we are going to need our seniors, Matt Martin and Austin Holton, to step up and lead this team, and I know they are ready to do that.”
The Generals’ roster also includes seniors Brad Rayford and Andres Gil; juniors Ryan King, Jordan Greene and Woo Jang; sophomores C.J. Lynch, Dillon Greene, Christian Moore, Walker Davis and Ben Olbricht; and freshmen Cole Seasholtz, Ethan Boyd and Kyle Watkins.
The Generals plan to be powerful at the plate, quick on the bases and solid on the field. The team is working hard to achieve its goals under the leadership of head coach Donald Dawkins and assistant coaches Chuck DeWeese and Curtis Lynch.
February 2011
Dale Murphy Speaks at Annual Benefit Dinner
by Julie Dykes • photography by Vicky Copeland
The Board, administration, faculty, staff and students of Georgia Christian School were excited to welcome former Atlanta Braves player Dale Murphy to their annual Benefit Dinner on December 9, 2010. The event is hosted by the school each year to raise funds that will offset tuition costs for its students. The 2010 Benefit Dinner was held in the ballroom at the newly-constructed Student Union at Valdosta State University.
Regarded as one of the best players of the 1980s, Murphy was both a first baseman and an outfielder. In his 18-year baseball career (1976-1993), he played for three different teams. His best years are considered those in which he played for the Atlanta Braves. His many accomplishments as a professional player include seven All-Star appearances, two consecutive Most Valuable Player awards (1982-1983), five National League Golden Glove awards and four Silver Slugger awards. He led the major leagues in home runs and runs batted in from 1981 to 1990. Murphy finished his career with 398 home runs and a .265 lifetime batting average. His jersey number (3) was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 1994.
It was an honor for the school to host Murphy, who addressed the Georgia Christian student body in an assembly prior to the dinner. He spoke of his non-profit organization, the I Won’t Cheat Foundation, which promotes a character education program designed to confront dishonesty. Murphy encouraged students to take responsibility for themselves and for their actions, and to never use steroids or cheat, whether in sports or academically. He also answered questions, including those related to his baseball career and his life since retirement. One question, from a parent, concerned Murphy’s clean lifestyle outside of baseball, for which he was widely known during his career. It was a great opportunity for students to understand the importance of character and how a person’s words and actions can follow them even after their careers have ended.
Prior to dinner, Murphy graciously greeted guests and posed for photographs at the VIP Reception. His topic for the event was “Baseball Experiences, Values, and Priorities in Life.” He shared stories about his family and career, and the great lessons he learned from his famous former coaches, especially Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. Murphy spoke for approximately 40 minutes to an audience of 350, after which he was presented with a gift from the Georgia Christian student body. After dinner, Murphy signed autographs for another hour. “Having one of my childhood heroes visit and listening to him speak about his career was an experience I’ll never forget,” says Brad Lawson, the school’s Headmaster.
Other sports stars have headlined past Benefit Dinners, such as former NBA player and ESPN commentator Tim McCormick as well as Heisman Trophy winner and NBA player Charlie Ward. Plans are underway for next year’s event, which will feature another exciting speaker. Please check the Georgia Christian School website for details as they become available.
by Julie Dykes • photography by Vicky Copeland
The Board, administration, faculty, staff and students of Georgia Christian School were excited to welcome former Atlanta Braves player Dale Murphy to their annual Benefit Dinner on December 9, 2010. The event is hosted by the school each year to raise funds that will offset tuition costs for its students. The 2010 Benefit Dinner was held in the ballroom at the newly-constructed Student Union at Valdosta State University.Regarded as one of the best players of the 1980s, Murphy was both a first baseman and an outfielder. In his 18-year baseball career (1976-1993), he played for three different teams. His best years are considered those in which he played for the Atlanta Braves. His many accomplishments as a professional player include seven All-Star appearances, two consecutive Most Valuable Player awards (1982-1983), five National League Golden Glove awards and four Silver Slugger awards. He led the major leagues in home runs and runs batted in from 1981 to 1990. Murphy finished his career with 398 home runs and a .265 lifetime batting average. His jersey number (3) was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 1994.
It was an honor for the school to host Murphy, who addressed the Georgia Christian student body in an assembly prior to the dinner. He spoke of his non-profit organization, the I Won’t Cheat Foundation, which promotes a character education program designed to confront dishonesty. Murphy encouraged students to take responsibility for themselves and for their actions, and to never use steroids or cheat, whether in sports or academically. He also answered questions, including those related to his baseball career and his life since retirement. One question, from a parent, concerned Murphy’s clean lifestyle outside of baseball, for which he was widely known during his career. It was a great opportunity for students to understand the importance of character and how a person’s words and actions can follow them even after their careers have ended.Prior to dinner, Murphy graciously greeted guests and posed for photographs at the VIP Reception. His topic for the event was “Baseball Experiences, Values, and Priorities in Life.” He shared stories about his family and career, and the great lessons he learned from his famous former coaches, especially Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. Murphy spoke for approximately 40 minutes to an audience of 350, after which he was presented with a gift from the Georgia Christian student body. After dinner, Murphy signed autographs for another hour. “Having one of my childhood heroes visit and listening to him speak about his career was an experience I’ll never forget,” says Brad Lawson, the school’s Headmaster.
Other sports stars have headlined past Benefit Dinners, such as former NBA player and ESPN commentator Tim McCormick as well as Heisman Trophy winner and NBA player Charlie Ward. Plans are underway for next year’s event, which will feature another exciting speaker. Please check the Georgia Christian School website for details as they become available.
January 2011
First-Year Wrestling Team Trains at GCS
by Andres Gil, GCS senior
The Georgia Christian Generals will begin their first season of wrestling in a tournament to be held at Valwood School on December 9, which will include two additional area high schools. Head coach Mike Johnson took over the program for the first time in the history of the school and has hopes that his team will do their best in their first match. “Their practices are hard and complicated, but they are not giving up. They are doing really well,” says Johnson.
The Generals believe they will be strong, trying their best and playing smart, and they hope to earn first place. The Generals are led by junior Jordan Greene, sophomore Dillon Greene, and freshmen Cole Seasholtz, C.J. Alley, and Addam Sipplin. Dillon Greene, who got his start in the sport when he attended school in Hahira, is the most experienced wrestler on the team.
The Generals have plenty of spirit and the faith that they will do well this year. However, they have not much practice time together and fear it has not been long enough to be 100 percent ready for the first match. They know that other schools have been practicing for a long time, but they will not give up. They will fight for the victory because they are not scared. Their fear will finally dissipate when they bring home the first place trophy.
by Andres Gil, GCS senior
The Georgia Christian Generals will begin their first season of wrestling in a tournament to be held at Valwood School on December 9, which will include two additional area high schools. Head coach Mike Johnson took over the program for the first time in the history of the school and has hopes that his team will do their best in their first match. “Their practices are hard and complicated, but they are not giving up. They are doing really well,” says Johnson.The Generals believe they will be strong, trying their best and playing smart, and they hope to earn first place. The Generals are led by junior Jordan Greene, sophomore Dillon Greene, and freshmen Cole Seasholtz, C.J. Alley, and Addam Sipplin. Dillon Greene, who got his start in the sport when he attended school in Hahira, is the most experienced wrestler on the team.
The Generals have plenty of spirit and the faith that they will do well this year. However, they have not much practice time together and fear it has not been long enough to be 100 percent ready for the first match. They know that other schools have been practicing for a long time, but they will not give up. They will fight for the victory because they are not scared. Their fear will finally dissipate when they bring home the first place trophy.
GCS Cheerleaders Have the Spirit
by Madison DeWeese, GCS senior • photography by Vicky Copeland
This year, the cheerleaders at Georgia Christian School are coached by Mrs. Stacie Daugherty and Mrs. Bridgette Russell.
The squad includes senior Yoo Jung Kim, junior Soo Yean Jun and freshman Hannah Jang, three exchange students from Korea. The remainder of the Generals squad includes seniors Anna Kinchen, Shelby Faircloth and Georgia Thomson, junior Krysta Hiers, sophomores Katie Brown, Carly Bosch and Ciera Seasholtz, and freshmen Morgan Moore and Kyleigh Daugherty. Manager Talisa Sampson is their stunt assistant and GCS first-grader Sarah Russell is the cheerleader mascot.
“We are blessed this year with a very diverse group of girls both culturally as well as in levels of experience,” says Daugherty. “All of our girls are working hard, especially the exchange students. They have had to learn not only the routines but overcome a language barrier as well. We are very excited about this season and are really looking forward to cheering our Generals on.”
This is the first year that most of the girls have competed on the varsity squad. “It’s my first year of cheerleading and I’m having a lot of fun. It’s such a great experience,” says senior Shelby Faircloth.
Each year, the cheerleaders host a camp for girls in K3 through fifth grade, teaching them a few cheers. At the Homecoming games, the Little Generals cheerleaders perform on the court with the older girls. During halftime of the varsity boys game, the Little Generals cheer by themselves.
Homecoming at Georgia Christian promises to be a great time this year as they face Appling Christian on Saturday, December 11.
by Madison DeWeese, GCS senior • photography by Vicky Copeland
This year, the cheerleaders at Georgia Christian School are coached by Mrs. Stacie Daugherty and Mrs. Bridgette Russell. The squad includes senior Yoo Jung Kim, junior Soo Yean Jun and freshman Hannah Jang, three exchange students from Korea. The remainder of the Generals squad includes seniors Anna Kinchen, Shelby Faircloth and Georgia Thomson, junior Krysta Hiers, sophomores Katie Brown, Carly Bosch and Ciera Seasholtz, and freshmen Morgan Moore and Kyleigh Daugherty. Manager Talisa Sampson is their stunt assistant and GCS first-grader Sarah Russell is the cheerleader mascot.
“We are blessed this year with a very diverse group of girls both culturally as well as in levels of experience,” says Daugherty. “All of our girls are working hard, especially the exchange students. They have had to learn not only the routines but overcome a language barrier as well. We are very excited about this season and are really looking forward to cheering our Generals on.”
This is the first year that most of the girls have competed on the varsity squad. “It’s my first year of cheerleading and I’m having a lot of fun. It’s such a great experience,” says senior Shelby Faircloth.
Each year, the cheerleaders host a camp for girls in K3 through fifth grade, teaching them a few cheers. At the Homecoming games, the Little Generals cheerleaders perform on the court with the older girls. During halftime of the varsity boys game, the Little Generals cheer by themselves.
Homecoming at Georgia Christian promises to be a great time this year as they face Appling Christian on Saturday, December 11.
December 2010
Basketball Season Preview
by Matt Martin and Rachel Swilley • photography by Vicky Copeland
The Georgia Christian School Generals are looking forward to another great basketball season this fall. After making it to the Final Four in soccer, the Generals will have had only two and a half weeks of practice before traveling to their crosstown rival, Open Bible.
GCS is coming off a 15-8 season record last year after a big upset and loss in the first round of state playoffs. The Generals will have to step up this year since they lost five seniors from last year. Of the five graduating seniors, three were starters while the other two played from the bench as the sixth and seventh men. Among those five graduates were two players who led the Generals in scoring: Grant Colson, who averaged 18 points per game, and Josh Thompkins, with 12 points per game.
The Generals are going to be a young team this year but are looking strong with senior returning starters Austin Holton and Matt Martin. Rounding out the starting five are junior Ryan King and sophomores C.J. Lynch and Dowling Armstrong. The Generals look to have more size with two large starting sophomores and also look to have better team chemistry with basketball knowledge.
To help the young players overcome their lack of experience, the Generals are being coached by one of the best staffs in the GISA. They will be led by second-year head coach Kent Copeland, who coached at Gatewood Academy for eight years. Copeland was an assistant coach at Georgia Christian before becoming head coach last year. His assistant coaches include GCS alumni Mike Johnson and Jon Sykes, who also played basketball for the school.
According to Coach Copeland, the Generals philosophy will change this year. “We plan on using our big guys and feeding the post more than we ever did last year. The three-point shot will be secondary in our offense. On defense, the Generals will be a man-to-man team.” Coach Copeland also looks to take advantage of speed with guards to run, jump, and pressure the opponents into hurrying their offense. “The Generals will be fun to watch and will play hard the whole game,” he says.
This year’s Lady Generals basketball team has a lot of potential as well. With three returning starters, a few new additions and a strong group of underclassmen, the upcoming season looks promising. This season, the Lady Generals will consist of senior Rachel Swilley, juniors Casey Alley, Augusta Guthrie, Krysta Hiers and Rebekah Swilley, sophomores Caitlin Brown and Mallory Boyd, and freshmen Madison Lynch, Chelsea McLeod and Lauren Redshaw.
To start off the season, the team spent their nights in the gym for a week during October. This training week was given the name “Unity.” It consisted of three daily practices for conditioning as well as team building. Throughout the week, the varsity girls did everything together. It was a great success that built relationships and trust among the players. Daily practices have continued each afternoon for the past few weeks. The team works hard and the coaches push players to improve every day. The coaching staff this year has a lot of knowledge and experience. Copeland returns as head coach with assistants Johnson and Sykes. A new addition to the coaching staff is assistant Philip Guthrie.
This year the varsity girls will be a very defense-oriented team. “The Lady Generals have been known for their defense,” says Johnson. “They have committed themselves to going all out and getting after the ball. The Lady Generals are going to be in every game because of their intensity on the defensive end.”
The Lady Generals are looking forward to the upcoming season and their opening game on November 11 at Open Bible. As another Georgia Christian basketball season rolls around, excitement and anticipation continue to grow.
by Matt Martin and Rachel Swilley • photography by Vicky Copeland
The Georgia Christian School Generals are looking forward to another great basketball season this fall. After making it to the Final Four in soccer, the Generals will have had only two and a half weeks of practice before traveling to their crosstown rival, Open Bible.GCS is coming off a 15-8 season record last year after a big upset and loss in the first round of state playoffs. The Generals will have to step up this year since they lost five seniors from last year. Of the five graduating seniors, three were starters while the other two played from the bench as the sixth and seventh men. Among those five graduates were two players who led the Generals in scoring: Grant Colson, who averaged 18 points per game, and Josh Thompkins, with 12 points per game.
The Generals are going to be a young team this year but are looking strong with senior returning starters Austin Holton and Matt Martin. Rounding out the starting five are junior Ryan King and sophomores C.J. Lynch and Dowling Armstrong. The Generals look to have more size with two large starting sophomores and also look to have better team chemistry with basketball knowledge.
To help the young players overcome their lack of experience, the Generals are being coached by one of the best staffs in the GISA. They will be led by second-year head coach Kent Copeland, who coached at Gatewood Academy for eight years. Copeland was an assistant coach at Georgia Christian before becoming head coach last year. His assistant coaches include GCS alumni Mike Johnson and Jon Sykes, who also played basketball for the school.
According to Coach Copeland, the Generals philosophy will change this year. “We plan on using our big guys and feeding the post more than we ever did last year. The three-point shot will be secondary in our offense. On defense, the Generals will be a man-to-man team.” Coach Copeland also looks to take advantage of speed with guards to run, jump, and pressure the opponents into hurrying their offense. “The Generals will be fun to watch and will play hard the whole game,” he says.
This year’s Lady Generals basketball team has a lot of potential as well. With three returning starters, a few new additions and a strong group of underclassmen, the upcoming season looks promising. This season, the Lady Generals will consist of senior Rachel Swilley, juniors Casey Alley, Augusta Guthrie, Krysta Hiers and Rebekah Swilley, sophomores Caitlin Brown and Mallory Boyd, and freshmen Madison Lynch, Chelsea McLeod and Lauren Redshaw.To start off the season, the team spent their nights in the gym for a week during October. This training week was given the name “Unity.” It consisted of three daily practices for conditioning as well as team building. Throughout the week, the varsity girls did everything together. It was a great success that built relationships and trust among the players. Daily practices have continued each afternoon for the past few weeks. The team works hard and the coaches push players to improve every day. The coaching staff this year has a lot of knowledge and experience. Copeland returns as head coach with assistants Johnson and Sykes. A new addition to the coaching staff is assistant Philip Guthrie.
This year the varsity girls will be a very defense-oriented team. “The Lady Generals have been known for their defense,” says Johnson. “They have committed themselves to going all out and getting after the ball. The Lady Generals are going to be in every game because of their intensity on the defensive end.”
The Lady Generals are looking forward to the upcoming season and their opening game on November 11 at Open Bible. As another Georgia Christian basketball season rolls around, excitement and anticipation continue to grow.
November 2010
Fall Sports Excitement at Georgia Christian School
by Matt Martin and Madison DeWeese, GCS seniors • photography by Vicky Copeland
The Georgia Christian Generals have begun a new soccer season after an 8-6 season last year. Former assistant coach Willis Colson took over the program after the retirement of long-time head coach Jorge Brathwaite.
The Generals are led by returning senior captains Andres Gil, Matt Martin, Austin Holton and Kha Nguyen. After graduating five seniors from last year, the Generals remain strong with an overall 15-8 record and a regular season record of 11-4.
The Generals began the season with tournaments in LaGrange, Hinesville and Macon. They tied for second in LaGrange and finished strong by taking second in the Hinesville tournament. At that tournament, they beat hosting region team Central Fellowship, 3-2, before losing to a team from Alabama in the final match of the tournament. Martin and Gil were named All-Tournament players along with sophomore C.J. Lynch.
After losing to region opponents at the beginning of the season, the Generals managed to fight back and beat the region’s top three teams at their home field, where they are undefeated this year. The team is led in goals by Gil, whose 32 goals so far this season beat the Georgia Christian record he set as a freshman. He is closely followed by many Generals players with high scores.
After splitting with the top three teams and sweeping the last two teams in their region, the Generals are looking good going into the playoffs. Placing first or second in their region will allow them to play the first round of playoffs against a lower-ranked team in another region. This would give them a better chance of winning the first round and advancing to the Final Four in Milledgeville, Georgia. The Generals hope to win the state championship.
The Lady Generals recently finished their varsity softball season in Carollton, Georgia, where they fell to the Lady Warriors of Oak Mountain while competing in the first round of state playoffs.
The Lady Generals had a tough year. They began the season suffering the loss of three graduated seniors and two players who did not return to the team, which led to difficulty in filling their pitching and catching positions. The team scrambled to fill the spots but found they had the right players for the jobs: three who could pitch and two who could catch behind the plate. With only 10 players, each team member had to learn to play more than one position.
The young team was in a rebuilding year with three seniors, two sophomores, three freshmen and two eighth-graders. There are some promising seventh-graders on the junior varsity team coming up for next season. The JV team had a great season and show promise for the future of the softball program. If they are successful in growing together as a team, they could have the recipe for a future state championship.
The Lady Generals coaches for this year were head coach Donald Dawkins, assistant coaches Chuck DeWeese and Joey Redshaw, B-team coaches Donald Dawkins and Joey Redshaw, and junior varsity head coach Kent Copeland.
by Matt Martin and Madison DeWeese, GCS seniors • photography by Vicky Copeland
The Georgia Christian Generals have begun a new soccer season after an 8-6 season last year. Former assistant coach Willis Colson took over the program after the retirement of long-time head coach Jorge Brathwaite. The Generals are led by returning senior captains Andres Gil, Matt Martin, Austin Holton and Kha Nguyen. After graduating five seniors from last year, the Generals remain strong with an overall 15-8 record and a regular season record of 11-4.
The Generals began the season with tournaments in LaGrange, Hinesville and Macon. They tied for second in LaGrange and finished strong by taking second in the Hinesville tournament. At that tournament, they beat hosting region team Central Fellowship, 3-2, before losing to a team from Alabama in the final match of the tournament. Martin and Gil were named All-Tournament players along with sophomore C.J. Lynch.
After losing to region opponents at the beginning of the season, the Generals managed to fight back and beat the region’s top three teams at their home field, where they are undefeated this year. The team is led in goals by Gil, whose 32 goals so far this season beat the Georgia Christian record he set as a freshman. He is closely followed by many Generals players with high scores.
After splitting with the top three teams and sweeping the last two teams in their region, the Generals are looking good going into the playoffs. Placing first or second in their region will allow them to play the first round of playoffs against a lower-ranked team in another region. This would give them a better chance of winning the first round and advancing to the Final Four in Milledgeville, Georgia. The Generals hope to win the state championship.The Lady Generals recently finished their varsity softball season in Carollton, Georgia, where they fell to the Lady Warriors of Oak Mountain while competing in the first round of state playoffs.
The Lady Generals had a tough year. They began the season suffering the loss of three graduated seniors and two players who did not return to the team, which led to difficulty in filling their pitching and catching positions. The team scrambled to fill the spots but found they had the right players for the jobs: three who could pitch and two who could catch behind the plate. With only 10 players, each team member had to learn to play more than one position.
The young team was in a rebuilding year with three seniors, two sophomores, three freshmen and two eighth-graders. There are some promising seventh-graders on the junior varsity team coming up for next season. The JV team had a great season and show promise for the future of the softball program. If they are successful in growing together as a team, they could have the recipe for a future state championship.
The Lady Generals coaches for this year were head coach Donald Dawkins, assistant coaches Chuck DeWeese and Joey Redshaw, B-team coaches Donald Dawkins and Joey Redshaw, and junior varsity head coach Kent Copeland.
All photography submitted by Georgia Christian School
