2004:  ABAC FASTPITCH OUTLOOK

 

     The Fillies finished second in the GJCAA State Championship in 2002, as they finished with a 29-23 season record and an 17-5 region record.  The State Runner Up finish has now placed ABAC in the GJCAA title game each year since 1998, by winning 5 State titles and 3 Runner Up titles.  The Fillies were a young team in 2003 as 10 freshmen filled the Fillie roster.  The 2004 team  looks to be promising, as 11 players will return.  Elske ten Hoope, the league's Most Valuable Player in 2003, along with All Conference third baseman, Danielle Bertram are returning to anchor the new campaign. 

 

    Coach Campbell has reloaded for the 2004 season as eight new faces will join ten returning sophomores.  Returning starters along with ten Hoope and Bertram are shortstop, Caroline Cripe, second baseman, Kallie Ellison, leftfielder, Kristy Shiver, and catchers, Ashley Hale and Kelsi Thiessen.  Other returning Sophomores who are expected to play first baseman, Jill Clark and outfielder, Leah Shiver.  Also back from the 2002 team is infielder, Stefanie ten Hoope, sister of Elske.  Stefanie returns to ABAC after a knee injury sidelined her for the 2003 season.  This team is looking to avenge their loss of the State title and looks once again to be a strong contender for the 2004 Georgia Championship.

 

     A highlight this season will be playing in over fifty games traveling to tournaments in Florida.  The Fillies will continue to play a tough schedule including some of the best competition in Florida.  The Fillies are now settled in to their new locker room which is located at 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 sixth season on their field, which is one of the best in the NJCAA.

 

     Campbell’s Fillies team will return eight full time starters.  Kristy Shiver will return to anchor the outfield as Christy Taylor and Melissa Stanley have now finished their careers at ABAC.  Also gone is starting first baseman, Jamie Hunnicutt.  Kristy Shiver who started in 48 games last season will return to anchor the outfield.  Almost the entire infield will return as Caroline Cripe and Kallie Ellison will return to the middle infielder's position.  Danielle Bertram will return to third base.  Kelsi Thiessen and Ashley Hale are the two returning catchers who shared plate duties in 2003.  Elske ten Hoope returns to the mound and her sister, Stefanie ten Hoope will also much needed depth as she is a player capable of playing many positions.

 

 

     Coach Campbell has brought in eight new freshmen to join eleven sophomores.  Coach Campbell is excited about the 2003 team with the strong core of Sophomores returning and the potential of the new recruits.  "Hopefully being a year older and a year wiser, I like what I have seen so far in our Fall practices."  Campbell stated.  "We have an excellent fastpitch tradition and our attitude of a winning tradition is ever present."  "With hard work the Fillies will once again be a strong contender in the GJCAA and will hope to regain the GJCAA title in April.  This year Coach Campbell is excited as the State Tournament will be held at Valdosta State University.  "Having the State tournament back in South Georgia will be nice and we are looking forward to hosting the tournament in Valdosta."

Coach Campbell is excited about the addition of the new freshmen.  Celia Petty has been signed to sure up the catching duties, she played travel ball with the Ga. Fire organization and has a lot of tournament experience.  Erica Pope from Warner Robins High School and Holly Garner from Brentwood Schools in Sandersville will add much to the Fillie infield.  Outfielders, Jenee Hix from Hart County, Ashley Batton from Bacon County, Candace Culver from Pierce County, along with Ashley Harrison from Colquitt County, and Lauren Barnes from Delray Beach, Florida will help replace two thirds of the missing outfield from 2003. "I feel the strongest attributes of this team will our athletic talent.  We were able to sign some very good athletes.  We will be a much more experienced team in the 2004 season and I hope this will pay off in April."   Another key feature will be the speed Coach Campbell added with recruiting.  Along with the speed of  Shiver, Bertram, Cripe and Ellison, Coach Campbell has added even more speed on the base path with Hix, Batton, and Petty.  "I feel we have a strong team in place and with hard work and our competitive schedule,  I believe this team will be fun to watch as they play an exciting brand of ball.  If we can hit better this season as I believe we will with the experience the Sophomores gained from 2003, then I like our chances to regain the State title.”

“Defensively our infield is solid in returning Bertram, Cripe, Ellison, and ten Hoope.  Kristy Shiver will have to be a leader in the outfielder as two freshmen will make up the lineup card there.  Returning the MVP of the league in Elske is exciting as she had a great freshmen years on the mound.  Kelsi and Ashley also gained experience behind the plate handling Elske, so it is nice to have your batteries back.  With our new exciting freshmen and solid returning sophomores, the mix of talent will make for another tough Fillie team."

 

      “We have a great fastpitch tradition at ABAC 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, and a fun team to watch.  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”