LUDOWICI — Six local girls recently took part in the Girls Softball World Series in Savannah. Joining six other girls from Chatham County, they were members of the 16-and-under Savannah Indians, who placed sixth in the event.
Teams came from as far as Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Alabama, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina to participate in the tournament that took place on July 18-21 at Paulson Park.
The team was formed in March and was coached by Amy Overholt and assistant coach Shawn Mills.
The local players included Lauren Yeargan, 16, from Wayne County, Chantel Breeden, 16, from Liberty County and Long County’s Brittany Mills, 16, Kayla Mills, 14, Brittany Cole, 16, and Kimber Sapp, 13.
After earning a berth into the tournament, each team played four pool-games to determine the seeding. Then there was a double-elimination contest to crown a winner. The team that won the event was the Georgia Heat Elite of Rincon.
Tournament highlights for the local girls included Brittany Mills batting .464, Breeden pitching two wins, and Yeargan playing outstanding defense at third base.
Cole was excellent at catcher throughout the tournament, while Kayla Mills belted back-to-back homeruns in one game.
One player who assistant coach Mills was especially pleased with was Sapp, who is the youngest member of the team.
“I was very pleased with Kimber’s play. Being the youngest girl out there, she really played well, managing to advance several runners, putting them into scoring position,” the coach said.
The coaches also exclaimed pride in all of the girls and their performances, and hoped to play in the tournament again next year.
“These girls didn’t even get together until March. Being thrown together this late and to do as well as they did, I am proud of all of them,” coach Mills said.
Teams came from as far as Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Alabama, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina to participate in the tournament that took place on July 18-21 at Paulson Park.
The team was formed in March and was coached by Amy Overholt and assistant coach Shawn Mills.
The local players included Lauren Yeargan, 16, from Wayne County, Chantel Breeden, 16, from Liberty County and Long County’s Brittany Mills, 16, Kayla Mills, 14, Brittany Cole, 16, and Kimber Sapp, 13.
After earning a berth into the tournament, each team played four pool-games to determine the seeding. Then there was a double-elimination contest to crown a winner. The team that won the event was the Georgia Heat Elite of Rincon.
Tournament highlights for the local girls included Brittany Mills batting .464, Breeden pitching two wins, and Yeargan playing outstanding defense at third base.
Cole was excellent at catcher throughout the tournament, while Kayla Mills belted back-to-back homeruns in one game.
One player who assistant coach Mills was especially pleased with was Sapp, who is the youngest member of the team.
“I was very pleased with Kimber’s play. Being the youngest girl out there, she really played well, managing to advance several runners, putting them into scoring position,” the coach said.
The coaches also exclaimed pride in all of the girls and their performances, and hoped to play in the tournament again next year.
“These girls didn’t even get together until March. Being thrown together this late and to do as well as they did, I am proud of all of them,” coach Mills said.