By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
Two years ago, Sardis High went to the state softball tournament for the first time in school history.
Now, the Lions back in Montgomery.
“Everyone is very excited,” coach Mary Beth Gilliland said. “Especially the seniors, who know this is their last chance to play together and last chance to do something big for the school. But not even counting them, there is a lot of excitement, around the school and the town.”
Four seniors are on the roster in Kameron Carter, Bethany Chamblee, Jadie Fobbus and Krista Hubbard. Carter, Chamblee and Hubbard all signed college softball scholarships.
The Lions open the tournament on Thursday (May 16) with a game against Corner, a team Sardis played in a tournament earlier this year.
“We beat them in seven innings,” Gilliland said. “(Carter) hit a walk-off home run for us. So we may be in for a great game against them.”
Carter has been a power source all season, but is surrounded by a lot of good hitters.
“We don’t pound the ball a whole lot,” Gilliland said. “But we put it in play and get on base. If you put it in play, anything is possible.”
Even after getting through the regional tournament, Gilliland doesn’t think her team has peaked.
“I think we played our best of the season in the county tournament,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll play well down there and win a few games. This team is capable of it; they’re good enough to beat any 4A team. It’s just according to which team shows up.”