Courtney Kitchens has one goal in mind while coaching an Oglethorpe County 8u rookie softball team: to teach the fundamentals of softball and prepare the team for the minor league games at the end of the season.
“We teach them proper fielding, batting, batting stance, throwing skills,” she said. “Those are a few of them.”
Kitchens saw her players exemplify their skills against the Franklin County Mighty Ducks last Thursday, as the opposing team scored three runs in the first inning with a double and a bunt hit to help bring the runners home.
For the Oglethorpe County Patriots, 8-year-old Karleigh Hathcock was first to bat. After two strikes, two fouls, she hit a ground ball to first and was tagged out for the Patriots’ first out of the inning.
Kitchens and parents advised players to “take a step towards the catcher” and “(stand) at the back of the box” when up to bat.
Later in the third inning, 6-year-old Delaney Weibe stepped into the batter’s box for a ground ball and was tagged out. She was advised to keep her “eye on the ball” and “swing like (she meant) it.”
In the fourth inning, 8-year-old Aubree Gresham and 7-year-old Lakelyn Parker stepped to the plate.
Gresham was advised to “watch the ball” and not to move her feet while at bat. She hit a ground ball and was tagged out while trying to reach first base.
Parker swung with a ground ball for a double. She remained on second as 8-year-old Zakari Kitchens was next at bat.
Kitchens reached first as Parker was tagged out running to third base.
Eight-year-old Ellis Taylor was last to bat for the Patriots, with a ground ball and tagged out by the Mighty Ducks to end the game.
Despite the Patriots’ 8-0 loss and 0-2 record, Kitchens has seen the girls’ confidence grow since the start of the season.
“A lot of the girls have gotten more confident with their throwing and fielding, for sure,” she said. “And batting, for that matter. We’ve got a few people that their batting has improved a lot.”
For Patriots catcher Trinity Young, 8, her improvement is due to the team practice and the work she does at home, father Colt Young said.
“They’ll get out at home and play a little bit,” he said. “She’ll work with her on her catching and throwing.”
Looking ahead, Kitchens is hopeful the girls will take their fundamental learning into the summer all-star league and a more competitive level of play.
At the end of the 12-game season, she and other Oglethorpe County rookie coach Montana Barner will evaluate both teams together to determine roughly 12 girls who would qualify.
The all-star team selection recognizes players who have excelled as evidenced by their game performance, softball skills, positive attitude and overall sportsmanship.
She and other parents are also hopeful the program will continue to grow, with more girls getting involved and local teams to play.
“More teams, more kids getting involved, I would say,” Colt Young said. “Because right now, you don’t want two teams for this league, for this age group.”
“It takes about 11 girls to make a team,” Kitchens said. “Because it’s 10 on the field, and you would want one (player) to be able to rotate in and out. So hopefully more girls will get involved.”