Lady Canes Eye New Season

The Monticello High School fast-pitch softball team has been working for a new season with hopes of repeating the program’s past years of success.

Coach Chris Jenkins’ team will open the 2019 campaign on Monday, Aug. 5 against Ola High School in McDonough at 5:30 p.m. MHS will then face Mary Persons on the road in Forsyth Thursday, Aug. 8 and GMC in Milledgeville the following day. Both of those games begin at 5:30 p.m.

The 2019 home opener is set for Tuesday, Aug. 13 against Oconee High School. That will be the first of four consecutive home contests for the Lady Canes who also will host Howard High School (Aug. 15), Jackson High School (Aug. 19) and Mary Persons (Aug. 20.) All games are set for 5:30 p.m.

Jenkins has several returning players from last season’s state tournament team. Returning players include senior outfielder Makayla Wages, junior pitcher and infielder Bailey Jenkins, junior infielder Allie Jones, junior outfielder Marley Sands and junior infielder Hailie Tripp.

Returning sophomores include Avery Barton, Azure Guli, Haley Hooberry, Jocelyn Morris, Jenna Parrish, Kate Robinson and Jasmine Stone.

Players took part in workouts during June and have now moved into preseason practice with the season now approximately two weeks away.

The Lady Canes have qualified for the state tournament four consecutive years and 13 of the past 14 seasons. The program was state runner-up in 2017.

Region games for 2019 will be against Union County, Oglethorpe County, Social Circle, Elbert County, Rabun County, Banks County and Putnam County. The region tournament will begin September 26 with the first round of state set for October 10.