2003: ABAC FASTPITCH OUTLOOK
The Fillies won the GJCAA State title in 2002 which was the
fifth title for the ABAC team, as they finished with a 33-21 season record and
an 18-2 region record. The State
Champions returned to the NJCAA National Tournament in
Orlando, Fla. for the third time in a row
and are becoming a familiar face at the Nationals. The Fillies place 9th after
pitcher Jackie Moore pitched a perfect game to beat
Johnson Community College, so it was another great
year for the Fillies. The Fillies now
have finished 5th and 9th place respectively the past two
seasons at the National Tournament. The Fillies provided excitement for the
fans en route to another successful season, continuing the strong softball
tradition at ABAC.
Coach Campbell has reloaded for the 2003
season as twelve new faces will join five returning sophomores. The Fillies plan on continuing the assault on
the Southeast college fastpitch scene and continue to build their program to become
a national power.
A
highlight this season will be playing in over sixty games traveling to
tournaments in Florida. The Fillies will continue to play a tough
schedule including some of the best competition in Florida. Another highlight is the completion of the
Red Hill Athletic Complex, located just 50 yards from the Fillie field. The building houses facilities for all of the
ABAC spring sports. One section of the
facility houses the Fillies dressing room, coach’s office, training room, as
well as a private umpire facility and much needed storage. The Fillies players
are looking forward to playing their fifth season on their field and enjoying
their new softball facility.
Campbell’s Fillies team will return four
full time starters in Melissa Stanley, Jamie Hunnicutt, Christy Taylor, and
Melissa Gail. Kelly Rogers also returns
to the squad and will see time in the outfield.
Christy will move from left field to center field to replace Kathy
Watkins who signed to play with Valdosta State University. Jamie will move from shortstop to 1b
replacing Amy Davenport who signed with Ga. College and
State University. Melissa Stanley will return to her right
field position while Melissa Gail will return to the squad after basketball
season to play in the infield. Kelly
will be counted on for leadership and outfield playing time. Also gone from the 2002 squad are Melissa
Botelho who was the Fillie catcher the past two seasons who signed to play at
August State University, Latoya Office who signed
with Morris Brown University. Kelly Upton, Kim Farris, and Molly Busbee
also finished their seasons last year.
Coach Campbell has brought in twelve freshmen
to join five sophomores. Coach Campbell
is excited about the 2003 team with the strong core of Sophomores returning and
the potential of the new recruits. The
fastpitch tradition is slowly being set and the winning attitude is ever
present. With hard work the Fillies will
once again be a strong contender in the GJCAA and will hope to defend their
GJCAA title in April.
“I
feel the strongest attributes of this team will our athletic talent. We were able to sign some very good
athletes. We will be extremely young,
even for a junior college with the 12 freshmen, but they are talented players
who love the game. Another key feature
will be the speed Coach Campbell added with recruiting. Along with the speed of Gail and Taylor,
Campbell recruited Danielle Bertram
from Dublin High School and Kristy Shiver from
Tiftarea Academy. Both of these freshmen showed speed on the
base paths this Fall. “I feel we have
the recruiting class in place and with hard work, I think this team will be a
contender again in the GJCAA. If we can
manufacture some runs with our speed, I like our chances to repeat as State
Champions”
“Defensively
our outfield is solid in returning Taylor, Stanley, and Rogers. Kristy Shiver, Amy Boone, and Leah Shiver
will battle for playing time. “Our
infield will be young, but talented, so as the season progresses, I expect
their play to be of championship caliber.
We have brought in Danielle Bertram, Caroline Cripe, Kallie Ellison,
Jill Clark, Crystal Fowler, and Nicole Jarrell who are all excellent players
and will be tough defensively in the dirt.
Kelsi Theissen and Ashley Hale will handle the catching duties while Nicole
Jarrell and Elske ten Hoope will throw for the Fillies.”
“We have a started a great fastpitch
tradition at ABAC in just six short years and I feel with our ethics of hard
work and dedication, this will be another good ABAC fastpitch team and a fun
team to coach. Our goal in this program
has always been to have a top-class team who loves to hustle and compete with
the best. I strongly believe that with
our philosophy of hard work and commitment, and a little luck, we can continue
to make our program a regular face at the NJCAA National Tournament”