CUMMING, GA --- Four years ago, the West Forsyth feeder softball team notched it’s first and only North Fulton/Forsyth Fastpitch League (NFFL) championship over county rival South Forsyth.
The 2014 team featured a pitching duo of Hannah Guthrie and Avery Wassilchak, behind a balance of high-powered hitting led by Kelsey Schell and a stout defense from Ashley Schell, Gracie Martin, Emily Kraft (Mars Hill commit), Lindsey Andrews, Caroline Hayes and Maria Luce. That combination helped lead the Lady Wolverines to an (11-0-1) region record and a season record of (26-4-1) en route to its lone NFFL title.
While some may say time changes everything, this time it appears the fastpitch unit is experiencing a back-to-the-future flashback.
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Race forward to 2018, where the aforementioned 9-player core, consisting of 6 SRs and 3 underclassmen from that championship roster, plus seven newcomers such as Seniors Katelyn Cooper (Columbus State commit); Madison Michael, a transfer from Charlotte, NC (Tusculum commit); Juniors Bailee Martin, Allie Jackson and Jenna Harris; Sophomore Olivia Finamore and Freshman Grace Mangan; and you have a reinforced foundation of experience mixed with youthful talent.
August marks West Forsyth's return to the diamond, poised to compete for another title - this time within the Georgia High School Association's (GHSA) Region 5-7AAAAAAA, against a similar cast of 2014 opponents and players, hailing from a majority of the same Forsyth and North Fulton county schools.
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While West finished near the Region 5 bottom in run production last year, this year's offensive output will need to return to 2014 form for their title hopes to be realized.
In the circle, SR pitchers Guthrie, Wassilchak and Michael, plus JR Luce will arguably offer the Region’s deepest and most formidable rotation.
After opening the 2018/19 campaign with close non-Region losses to Mill Creek, Collins Hill and North Paulding, Head Coach Justin Rickett’s team has strung together seven out of 10 wins over Sequoyah, Brookwood, Walnut Grove, Flowery Branch, Hillgrove, Bremen and Parkview outscoring opponents 56-21.
Regional action began last week with close defeats to South Forsyth and Milton and continues this week with Forsyth Central and Lambert.
For a full schedule, visit https://westforsythathletics.c...
PHOTO:
Senior Lady Wolverines Poised for Another Title Run—Seven of this years nine Seniors were a part of the 2014 NFFL Championship team. They include (left to right) newcomer Katelyn Cooper, Avery Wassilchak, transfer student Madison Michael, Kelsey Schell, Hannah Guthrie, Ashley Schell, Lindsey Andrews, Gracie Martin and Emily Kraft.
