By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

When the softball season ended in Fayette County, there were a number of girls who just were not ready to stop. Teaming up with some like-minded girls from Henry County, a new team was formed. They called themselves the Renegades.

The Renegades were to go to the FAST National Championship in Kissimmee, Fla. and they didn't have a lot of time to practice. The team only practiced and played together seven times before making their journey. In the coming days, they would face some of the best up and comers in the country in fast pitch softball.

During the week, the team gelled. They had several come-from-behind wins and became the third seed in the double elimination tournament toward the end of the week. One key to their success was strong starting pitching from Lily Yarbrough, Emily Oglesby and Kristen Sims.

Two of the more satisfying wins of the week came against the Florida state champions: The West Palm Beach Wildcats. In their first game against the Wildcats, the Renegades won 6-5. The Renegades then defeated them again in the semifinals, 10-5.

In the finals, the Renegades faced the Western New York Stampede. In the end, they lost 6-2, but they certainly came a long way in a very short period of time.

Three members of the Renegades made the All Star tournament team; Carly Wynn, leadoff hitter and a superb defensive right fielder; Emily Oglesby, for her effectiveness as a pitcher and hitter, and Ashley Holcombe, an extremely talented catcher.

Holcombe finished the tournament with a .417 batting average. She hit two homeruns and drove in 14 RBI.

The parents and coaches were extremely proud of the team's accomplishments. The players wanted to play more softball this summer and made the best of it.

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