The Oglethorpe County softball team enters 2026 after a season in which it gained experience and reestablished itself as a postseason contender.
Led by coach Brianna Dickens, the Patriots went 13–11 in 2025, finishing third in the region and securing a spot in the state playoffs.
“There were times where I felt like we grew up a lot, like games where we made big plays or did things that put us on the successful end of that,” she said.
The centerpiece of the 2025 season was now-graduated pitcher Reese Campbell, who shouldered heavy varsity innings the past three seasons.
“Reese pitched the last three years, and I knew what I was getting from her,” Dickens said. “I knew if she threw strikes, we had a chance every game. She was very reliable and she was also a great leader.”
The Patriots also lost infielder Emilee Cutsail and catcher/pitcher Carolyn Barner, leaving a hole in the middle of the defense. Stepping into the gap is a young, but experienced sophomore group that makes up 27% of the roster.
They join an established core of six juniors and three seniors, led by Lillie Anderson, Khloe Eidson and Emily Wisham.
“I expect us to pick up where we left off last year, and I want us to show up to every game expecting to win,” Dickens said.
With one more preseason scrimmage before the regular-season opener against Baldwin County at Lake Oconee Academy on Aug. 1, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 OCHS softball team.
Returning starters
The Patriots will return the bulk of their starters this year.
Eidson anchors the infield at shortstop, with Anderson giving the Patriots flexibility in a utility role.
Though Anderson is expected to log reps at first base, the senior’s biggest impact comes in the batter's box, where she led the team with a .462 average and 18 hits in 2025.
Eidson, who first started at shortstop as a freshman, recorded the third highest batting average (behind Campbell) and recorded 15 hits last season.
“She’s had a lot of good experience, and learned from that,” Dickens said. “You can always tell when kids are learning because if they mess up, they’ll tell you what they did wrong. Rather than looking at a coach and/or me and saying, ‘Hey, what did I do?’ It makes me feel like we’re learning and getting better daily. It shows that things are clicking.”
Junior Riley Jones returns at third base, while second base and catcher will rotate between Anderson and juniors Morgan Davis and Maebrynn Reeves.
Emily Wisham will move from her usual left field position to center field to start the season. The senior led the Patriots in steals last season, and has grown into a vocal leader.
“The outfielders really work well together,” Dickens said. “(Wisham is) the one the others listen to well, and she’s very good at communicating and approaching things in a teammate-to-teammate way. She will be our anchor of the outfield to start the year.”
The senior is filling in for injured junior Zharia Burgess, who is recovering from a shoulder injury suffered at the state track and field championships in May.
Dickens said Burgess will likely miss the first 8-10 games, but should be fully healthy by October.
Together, Wisham and Burgess recorded zero errors last season.
Newcomers
Campbell’s departure leaves a young, but somewhat experienced bullpen.
Sophomores Haleigh Baker, Deven Weaver and Rylee Stanley all return after logging varsity and junior varsity innings, joined by freshman Aubrey Wisham, completing a four-pitcher rotation.
Baker and Stanley spent 2025 on junior varsity, while Weaver played seven games at the varsity level, recording 12 strikeouts.
“These sophomores (have) been around it,” Dickens said. “They got some experience last year, so now they’re kind of stepping into and embracing that role and kind of learning as they go and embrace competing in the moment.”
Aubrey, the younger sister of Emily, is one of two freshmen, and is also expected to see reps at second base.
Fellow freshman Henley Garrett will rotate with sophomore Alivia Anderson and juniors Jayden Ford and Georgia Turner in the outfield.
Keys to the season
Defensive consistency: Limit errors and make routine plays.
Battling on offense: Put as many balls in play and make opposing pitchers work to get outs.
- Steady pitching: Don’t give up free bases with walks and hit batters.
Region competition
Despite moving to Class AA due to the recent GHSA class restructuring, the region opponents largely stay the same from last year. They include Banks County, Commerce, Providence Christian and Rabun County.
The only change is the addition of Prince Avenue Christian School, the 2023 Class AA state champion. The Wolverines have won 20 or more games every season since 2020, and finished last year with a 31-5 record, including a 11-3 victory over the Patriots.
The Wolverines lost five seniors at the end of the season, but will likely remain the favorites next to Banks County, who finished second in the region in 2025.
“It's going to be tough,” Dickens said. “Competitive games come down to small differences, maybe giving up a walk or making an error or getting down a timely bunt or things of that nature. You’re going to have to play a pretty perfect game in order to pull out a win.”
However, with the new power-ranking system in place, non-region games will mean more than ever. The Patriots play three 6A opponents: Clarke Central, Cedar Shoals and Habersham Central.
“I think it will be beneficial in the sense of, let’s say you slipped a few games, and finished fifth or sixth, and you're not guaranteed (playoffs) in the past,” Dickens said. “Say we slip a few in our region — but our non-region schedule we really take care of, then that's going to benefit us on the back end.”
OCHS softball schedule (*denotes region game)
Aug. 1 vs. Baldwin noon
Aug. 1 at Lake Oconee Academy 2 p.m.
Aug. 4 at East Jackson 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 5 vs. Washington-Wilkes 5 p.m.
Aug. 11 at Evans 5 p.m.
Aug. 13 at Washington-Wilkes 5 p.m.
Aug. 16 vs. East Jackson 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 18 vs. East Jackson 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 vs. Cedar Shoals 6 p.m.
Aug. 25 vs. Providence Christian Academy* 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Habersham Central 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 at Prince Avenue Christian* 4:45 p.m.
Aug. 29 at Clarke Central 10 a.m.
Sept. 1 at Rabun County* 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 3 vs. Banks County* 6 p.m.
Sept. 8 vs. Clarke Central 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Providence Christian Academy* 5 p.m.
Sept. 15 vs. Commerce* 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 vs. Prince Avenue Christian* 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Putnam County 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 vs. Tallulah Falls 5 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. Putnam County 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Habersham Central 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Commerce* 5 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Banks County* 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 vs. Rabun County* 5:30 p.m.
OCHS softball roster
No. Name Grade Pos.
2 Khloe Eidson Sr. SS/UT
12 Zharia Burgess Sr. OF
22 Emily Wisham Sr. OF
6 Georgia Turner Jr. OF
7 Maebrynn Reeves Jr. IF
10 Riley Jones Jr. 3B
14 Morgan Davis Jr. C/2B
16 Lillie Anderson Jr. UT
26 Jayden Ford Jr. OF
8 Rylee Stanley So. P/IF
18 Haleigh Baker So. P/UT
3 Alivia Anderson So. OF
23 Deven Weaver So. P/U
1 Aubrey Wisham Fr. P/IF
15 Henley Garrett Fr. OF