The GMC JC Softball team (30-20) is riding an 8 game win streak as they wind down the regular season with only two more double headers (4 games) before the Conference Tournament at the end of the month. After sweeping a double header this past weekend against Georgia Highlands College, 7-4 and 11-0, they have reached the 30 win mark for the second year in a row and are only three wins away from breaking the record of most wins in a season, which is currently 32, set last year.
As in all team sports it's the success of the team and the program that is most important but not to be overlooked is the individual efforts of the athletes to help accomplish team success. This year has been a record breaking year in that regards. There have already been 5 records broken in individual categories for a season and 5 more records broken for a career. With 4 more game and the Conference Tournament there are several more season and individual career records that can be broken still.
When Coach Ashley Bunn was asked what has led to this solid run of play as of late her response was, "Well if you look back at the schedule, we have only lost 4 games since March began (going 18-4). February was a tough schedule for us, playing 28 games in as many days against some very tough competition, and losing Katy Stamey to season ending ACL surgery 9 games in. At the end of February we lost 4 games in a row to two teams that we felt as if we should have been able to beat, we had some players out of position due to injuries and were struggling to put things together as a team, both coaches and players. After that weekend we sat down and had a heart to heart meeting with everyone. Hashed out all questions, concerns, issues that either side was having, because we knew we had too much talent to continue down the path that we were on. I truly believe that after that meeting, there was no more walking on egg shells, playing scared and there was a lot more communication. I believe that was the turning point for the second half of our season, along with solidifying some defensive positions and roles throughout the team."
This coming Saturday, April 16th will be "Sophomore Day" as they compete against South Georgia. The first pitch is scheduled for 2pm with the start of the double header after the Sophomore Day celebration and recognition. Coach Bunn has nothing but high praise for the 7 Sophomores that will be moving on from GMC after the season. "You always recruit kids to come in and have high expectations for what you believe they will be able to achieve as both individuals and as a group. This year's group of Sophomores have exceeded my expectations and I couldn't be more thrilled for them. We brought in a young lady who had been a catcher and slapper all her life and she has transformed into a leader at SS and has broken the home run record for both single season and career homeruns. We have another young lady who just wanted a chance to play and was willing to be a walk-on, become a first team ALL-Region player as a freshman and is going to sign a National Letter of Intent this weekend to continue her softball and academic careers at the next level. We have two young ladies who finished their high school careers as state champions and have come here to help continue that tradition of winning. Both young ladies have had to endure injuries, one coming back from a broken hand the week before conference play last year and one who is currently playing with a bulging disc in her back but doesn't want to quit, knowing this is her last shot. We have a pitcher who threw a no hitter as a freshman, and then as the conference tournament came around told the coaching staff that she was ready if needed but understood if we pitched our sophomore every game. Not many players are that selfless anymore. We have two remaining sophomores who some thought we were just taking chances on and wouldn't make much of an impact. Both of which have given us lots of versatility in our line ups, being able to come into games defensively, offensively or even as base runners when needed. 6 of our 7 sophomores are all from the Middle Georgia area. These young ladies have all helped mold the "GMC Brand" that we were striving for and will help create recruiting opportunities for us in the future and as we continue to make this the best 2 year softball program in the state. I hope that Coach Wise and myself have brought as much to these young ladies lives, as they have given to us and this program. They will leave from GMC as the winningest class in GMC Softball history. To say they will be missed is an understatement, both on and off the field!", stated Coach Ashley Bunn.
The weather is going to be beautiful on Saturday, so come on out and plan on supporting our GMC Softball team as they continue their run to the playoffs.
Below are the records broken so far this year, both season and career records:
(There are 4 more regular season games left plus playoffs)
- Season Old Record New Record
Runs scored 50 53
- Hits 70 79
- RBI's 54 54-tied
- Doubles 7 18
- Kiley Rediger
- Triples 4 4-tied
- Home Runs 11 13
- Taylor Little
- Walks 23 23-tied
- Danielle Downs
- Stolen Bases 23 39
- Ansley Wilbanks
- Career
- At bats 310 322
- Taylor Little
- Runs 69 87
- Taylor Little
- Home Runs 15 22
- Taylor Little
- Stolen Bases 31 39
- Ansley Wilbanks
- Walks 24 32
- Taylor Little