Halfway via the summer season, the reigning Class AAAA runner-up is difficult at work in hopes of returning to the championship.
The Eastside Girl Eagles and head coach Heather Wooden have stayed busy this offseason as they’re set to return a group that has its justifiable share of expertise.
Final 12 months’s group solely featured just a few seniors, so most of the group’s prime producers again within the lineup for Wooden.
“We’re excited to get began. We really feel we’ve got a powerful group in all phases,” Wooden mentioned. “We’ve key gamers returning, we’ve got expertise and a powerful group of seniors that can provide the group with management. We’re excited for the season.”
Nonetheless, Wooden famous that there appears to be a little bit extra at stake for the seniors as they put together for what might be their remaining shot at a state title.
“We do have a really sturdy senior group, they’re a particular group,” Wooden mentioned. “They’ve actually skilled huge wins collectively and onerous losses through the years. This 12 months, they perceive their window is closing. I count on them to play with a way of urgency realizing that each second counts. That’s one thing they’re actually going to hone in on. All of them contribute to this group in some ways they usually all lead in some ways.”
For Wooden, there isn’t a one true chief for the Girl Eagles.
As an alternative, it’s the complete senior group, which consists of some gamers which have began since day one at Eastside.
Wooden is about to return a senior group that consists of gamers equivalent to Donee Morain, Allie Vaughn, Eva Davis, Kylee Lawrence, Savanna Griffin, Avery Jewell and Cadence McCullough.
For the Girl Eagles skipper, this group embodies what it means to be part of the Eastside softball program.
“I need to emphasize this as a result of we’ve got seven seniors they usually had been additionally seven starters for us final 12 months. They actually all contribute within the management position,” Wooden mentioned. “Donee Morain is a key participant for us, she is a rock on our group and holds down our infield. She is somebody that I belief to guide with out having to say something about it. Simply the best way she carries herself, the best way she performs the sport and her capacity to attach with individuals.
“Allie Vaughn is one other one as a consequence of her efficiency and her management. She units a fantastic instance day-in and day-out. She could be very reliable, sensible, and units an excellent instance for the gamers. Eva Davis has been strong within the circle for us for a very long time, she places in plenty of work within the offseason so I count on rather a lot out of her and I’m simply wanting ahead to what she goes to perform this 12 months as a senior. Kylee Lawrene [is] one other that’s only a nice presence on the sector and within the circle. Her and Eva complement one another very properly.”
Gamers equivalent to Morain and Vaughn supplied the slug for the Girl Eagles as each maintained slugging percentages properly over .800. In actual fact, Morain ended her junior season with a batting common north of .500 as she tallied 51 hits in simply 101 at-bats.
On the mound, Davis and Lawrence are set to convey again Eastside’s one-two punch within the circle.
Each pitchers eclipsed the 10-win mark in 2024 as Lawrene and Davis completed with earned run averages of 1.59 and a pair of.36, respectively.
When they aren’t pitching, Lawrence and Davis confirmed they will deal with their very own on the plate, too. Each pitchers completed the 12 months with an OPS above 1.000.
Though she didn’t need to make any ensures with how the group spreads their innings this 12 months, Wooden shared that there could also be some new faces taking the mound all through the season.
“We do have some younger pitchers that can get time within the circle,” Wooden mentioned. “We’ve some younger arms that we’re undoubtedly enthusiastic about and can get time. The factor this 12 months is that although we do have plenty of returning gamers and plenty of expertise, we additionally need to get our youthful ones prepared for when this group exits.”
Two younger gamers that made a right away impression final 12 months in a veteran-filled lineup are sisters Alyssa and Ansley Hartman.
Each Alyssa and Ansley are upcoming sophomores and Wooden expects that they may take one other leap after what was a powerful freshman season for each.
“They actually hit the bottom working final 12 months and have match into our softball tradition right here and our program very properly,” Wooden mentioned. “These are two that can solely get higher yearly they usually have already grown a lot since their freshman 12 months. They’ve actually put within the time and have honed in on their offseason preparation. I’m excited, I count on them to contribute much more subsequent 12 months.”
Amongst the senior group, there are a number of gamers which have already dedicated to play on the subsequent degree.
Final October, Vaughn introduced her dedication to play softball at Coastal Carolina. A month later, Morain introduced her dedication to play for Georgia Tech.
Then on the primary day of 2025, Lawrence introduced her dedication to the College of Memphis. This June, McCullough introduced her dedication to Georgia Highlands School.
For Wooden, the enjoyment is seeing the gamers develop via her program earlier than finally changing into college-level ballplayers.
“It has been so thrilling to observe this group as a result of they actually symbolize what the participant growth is for our program as a result of they’ve gotten higher and mature each single 12 months.” Wooden mentioned. “We get gamers in however these gamers have been taking part in since they had been freshmen. It’s been actually thrilling watching them they usually’re prepared. They’re prepared for that subsequent degree.”
