Softball Fillies set to begin 2008 campaign in Georgetown

The Harrison County Fillies are coming off a very successful 2007 season that saw the girls softball team finish with a 23-11 overall record. They were able to capture a 38th district championship and advance to the second round of the 10th Region tournament before falling to George Rogers Clark. The Fillies were 13-1 in the 10th Region and 8-1 in the 38th district in 2007.

The Fillies will kick-off a 2008 campaign with a new leader in Coach Christine Garnett at Georgetown College tonight. Garnett is taking over the reins from Rodney Persinger. She has been a math teacher at the high school for three years.

The new coach will be looking to several returning starters and a few players who have racked up some varsity softball experience to anchor the team this season.

We have six returning starters and four girls who have had a good amount of playing time at this level; so we are going to be a veteran team, said Garnett. Most of these girls have been playing for years, and it will be nice to have that experience to tap into and rely on.

Seniors Megan Bullock and Laura Kendall will be returning to the infield, at first and second base respectively. They will be joined by sophomore Rachel Hatfield at third base, sophomore Michelle Carson at the short stop position, and junior Charley Hatfield, who will be handling the catching responsibilities.

In the outfield, center field will be commanded by experience senior Kacey Muntz. She will be joined by sophomore right fielder Lorraine Dennie. A decision on a starter in left field is still up in the air.

The bulk of the pitching duties will be shared by the senior Bullock, sophomore Hatfield, and junior Layken Switzer.

Garnett is hopeful that she may be able to gain some pitching from eighth-grade student Tracey Hicks and seventh-grade student Ashley Coppage.

This teams biggest strength at this point, I believe, will be on the offensive side of the game. We are really going to be able to hit the ball well, said Garnett.

The Fillies roster is rounded out by junior Brittany Murphy; sophomores Ashley Hatfield and Kaitlyn Shepherd; freshman Courtney Wiggins and Lucinda Boyers; and sixth-grader Ashley Sizemore.

Tonight at 5:30 p.m. on the campus of Georgetown College, the Fillies will play in the first game of the Harrison County Pre-Season Scramble against the Lexington Christian Lady Eagles.

On Saturday, March 22, the Scramble will continue with Simon Kenton meeting Clark County at 9 a.m. Grant County will play Estill County at 11:30 a.m. Estill County will face Simon Kenton at 2 p.m., and Harrison County will take-on Grant County at 4:30 p.m.

The games will be played to seven innings or a two-hour time limit, whichever comes first.

On Tuesday, March 25, the Fillies will be on the road to Winchester for their regular season opener against the George Rogers Clark Lady Cardinals. The game is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.

Harrison County is not scheduled to play at home until Monday, April 7, when they will host the Lady Panthers of Fleming County at 5:30 p.m.