In recent years, the high schools in Fayette County have fielded very competitive softball teams. Fayette County won the state title in 2002 and Starr’s Mill has gone deep in the playoffs twice since then. Last year, Fayette County, Starr’s Mill and Whitewater all made the state playoffs and this year, all three teams are in the same region, along with very tough Northgate and McIntosh teams.

2-AAAA

Fayette County (last season, 8-16)

The Lady Tigers will have some new faces take the field this fall, but they will have two familiar faces on the mound. Caroline Teubl and Britt Hammel-Cobb are the team’s two pitchers and both have a lot of experience. In 12 games last year, they were able to hold opponents to three runs or less and if they can do that again this year, they will have a good shot of returning to the state playoffs.

Next game: Thursday, Aug. 17 vs. Sandy Creek, 6 p.m.

McIntosh (last season, 14-9-1)

The Lady Chiefs have a new head coach this year, their old assistant coach Joe Gaspierik, but they have a number of players who played a lot last year. Leading the way is junior pitcher Morgan Kidd and catcher, senior Amelia Beach. Beach was recently named to an adidas top 100 team and should give the McIntosh offense some pop. Other seniors on the team are third baseman Jocelyn Clarke and outfielder Brit LaPalm.

Others to watch are juniors Holly Houghton and Lisaira Daniels and sophomores Shannon Reno and Jessica Conaway. Kidd can take over a game with her pitching and should be a force throughout the season. If she remains healthy, McIntosh is a definite contender for a playoff spot and a region title.

Next game: Today vs. Grayson at Parkview, 5 p.m.

Starr’s Mill (last season, 32-8-1)

The Lady Panthers were dominant last season, making it deep into the AAAAA state playoffs before falling to Woodstock 1-0. This year, they have some questions to answer and some big shoes to fill. Starr’s Mill graduated nine seniors from last year’s team and the team only returns two starters to the field this year. One returning starter is pitcher Paige Peurifoy, another staff ace who can dominate a game and help her team out. Coach Mark Williamson is hoping that seniors Jordan Aszman, Kayla Deis and Lauren Marchman will also have a big impact and lead the way for some of the younger and more inexperienced players.

Starr’s Mill is ranked seventh in the first GaSports.com coaches poll of the season.

Next game: Thursday, Aug. 17 vs. Brookwood, 5 p.m.

Whitewater (last season 18-15)

Everyone from the coaches, players and fans expects great things from this team this year and it’s not hard to see why. The Lady Wildcats made the state playoffs last year and bring everyone back from that team. They have six seniors on the varsity squad including pitchers Ashley Pedersen, Danielle Dickson and Jill Keller. The team will also get a boost from players like seniors Megan Gaze, Lauren Moyer and Brittany Bishop and junior Tess Echols. This is a deep team that knows what it takes to make the playoffs and what they need to go further than they have gone before.

Whitewater is ranked 10th in the first GaSports.com coaches poll of the season.

Next game: Saturday, Aug. 19 vs. East Coweta, 10 a.m. at McCurry Park

6-AAA

Sandy Creek (last season 13-16)

Sandy Creek drops down to Class AAA from AAAA and will face a slew of new opponents this season. They will start the season, as they always do, with the Up the Creek tournament at McCurry Park, facing some of their Fayette County counterparts and a number of other top teams from the area. The Lady Patriots have a number of players back, including Megan Kallatsa, who did a lot of pitching for the team last year. Other players to watch include Erin Braswell, Kayla Awbrey, Candace Dunn, Katie Harper and Ashley Williams.

Next game: Thursday, Aug. 17 @ Fayette County, 6 p.m.

5-A

Landmark Christian (last season 9-14)

The Lady War Eagles, under new head coach Jessica Jones, have seven seniors on this year’s squad, including pitcher Ashley Chastain who started the 2005 campaign with a no-hitter against Meadowcreek. She also threw a no-hitter against Our Lady of Mercy last year and was adept at getting a lot of strikeouts. In addition to a dominant pitcher,

Landmark Christian has a very versatlie line-up with most of the seniors listed at two positions. Some players to watch this year include seniors Nikki Smith, Molly Weir and Chrissy McClain, as well as juniors Kat Strickland and Kellie Beal.

Next game: Friday, Diamond Classic, Griffin, Ga.

Our Lady of Mercy (last season 3-23)

The Lady Bobcats, under new head coach Millane Ferrell, made the state playoffs last year after a good finish in the region tournament, defeating Galloway and Whitefield Academy before falling to St. Francis. There is a lot of room for improvement though and the players know it. In all but their two wins in the region tournament, the team gave up runs in the double digits. If they hope to improve on last year’s record and return to the state playoffs, that must change.

The team’s five seniors; Sam Jumper, Danielle Allison, Amber Baker, Marina Fleming and Tairyn Kaminski hope to help lead the way.

Next game: Friday, Aug. 25 vs. Athens Christian, 4:30 p.m.

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