2008:  ABAC FASTPITCH OUTLOOK

     The Fillies have reloaded for the 2008 campaign.  Last year, the Fillies finished with a record of 29 wins and 21 losses and a 14-8 record in the conference.  The 2008 Fillies team will comprise of four returning sophomores, one sophomore transfer, and eleven new freshmen.  The Fillies will be a young team again in 2008, but with the experience of the 5 sophomores, this young team should develop well as the season progresses and will once again be a contender for the GJCAA title.  The ABAC fastpitch winning tradition is a strong one and we have high hopes that we will get back on top this season.

     Coach Campbell has reloaded for the 2008 season with eleven new players who will join the five sophomore players.  Returning to the Fillies in 2008 is Jennifer Cone who was one of the top ABAC pitchers in 2008.  All Conference outfielder, Laura Brown will be counted on again to have the hot bat in 2008.  Magan Davenport will return at 1^st base and will be looked to provide leadership to the young Fillie infield.  After suffering a knee injury in 2006, Ashley Fairfax will return to the Fillie infield and will provide much needed experience.  Ashli Chafin, a transfer from Young Harris will also be a constant in the Fillie infield.  “I am excited about our sophomore class, Laura had a tremendous year for us as a freshman and I will look once again for her to be an impact player for us in 2008.  I expect Jennifer to have another solid year on the mound for us as she is a competitor and I will need her to have a great sophomore year to help guide our young Fillie team.  I am so excited to have Ashley Fairfax back after a year of rehabilitation on her knee.  Ashley had a great year for us in the spring 2006 and I can’t wait to get her back on the field.  I will count on Magan at first to be the solid infielder she is as she handles the bag so well.  A pleasant addition is sophomore transfer, Ashley Chafin from Young Harris.  Ashley has come in this Fall and has done a fantastic job for us in the infield, says Campbell.”

     The eleven new Fillies are a talented group of players who have worked hard this fall to learn the Fillie system.  Pitchers, Erin Searcy from Thomasville, Ga. will join Amber May from East Cowetta High School to round out the pitching staff for the Fillies.  “I am excited about Erin and Amber joining Jennifer and I feel that the 2008 Fillies pitching staff will be one of the top in GJCAA as all three pitchers are capable of having great seasons, says Campbell.”  The catching duties will be handled by Rachelle Adkins and Jessica Corbett.  Rachelle is from high school powerhouse, Northgate High School and Jessica is from Echols County High School.  “Rachelle is a tremendous athlete who can handle the job in volumes behind the plate and with the addition of Jessica, I feel our catching position is as solid as it can be, states Campbell.”  The Fillie infield will consist of shortstop, Coutney Spilman from Dawson, Ga. where she played for Terrell Academy, Devae Richardson; also a shortstop from West Laurens High School, along with walk on, Kayla Stone for Hiram High School will compete for the infield positions.  “We lost our entire infield with the exception of Davenport and I look for this talented group of freshmen along with the return of Fairfax to improve greatly as the season progresses, says Campbell.”

The Fillie outfield will have a lot of new faces as Laura Brown will be joined by Melessa Jackson and Lauren Potts, both from the Jones County High School program.  Also joining them in the grass will be Lauren Moyer from Whitewater High School.  “I am so excited about this outfield as they can PLAY!  With four excellent outfielders who can hit this will be a huge asset to the Fillie team, states Campbell.” 

     Campbell’s expectations for 2008:  “I believe this is one of the best recruiting classes I have ever brought in to ABAC in quite some time.  The connection I have with the Sharpsburg Explosion travel team has brought in Adkins, Searcy, and Moyer and I hope this connection will stay alive for a long time to come.  I feel I was able to sign some outstanding talents to join them and I am excited about my team.  My sophomore players were a joy to coach in 2007 and I will count heavily on them to be the leaders I need in 2008.  This fall has been wonderful, as the players have been a pleasure to coach as they work hard and seem to already have that special chemistry a team needs in order to achieve great things.  I feel that we have an excellent chance to get back on top in the GJCAA if we can stay healthy and continue to improve and grow as a team in the Spring.  We have a lot of improving to do, but so far I couldn’t be more pleased with the effort they have shown this Fall.  As the players continue to work, they will improve as they make that necessary transition from the high school level to the college level.”

     “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 in the nation and an exciting team to watch.  I strongly believe that with our philosophy of hard work and commitment, and a little luck, we can continue to keep our program always in contention for the GJCAA state title.”