Fall sports preview: Local softball teams ready for a new season

August 4, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Bartow Sports Zone asked local high school softball coaches to answer a series of questions as a preview of the 2026 season.

Adairsville Tigers, head coach Justin Evans

The Tigers are coming off a 15-15 season last year and were 5-13 in Region 7-AAA. Adairsville went 15-14 in 2024; 6-18 in 2023; 9-13-1 in 2022; 6-16 in 2021; and 14-12 in 2020.

What are some of the biggest improvements you’ve seen for your team during summer and preseason workouts?

The unity and togetherness of our team have been the best since I arrived in 2023. They love playing together, help each other improve, and motivate one another. They also have more fight and grit compared to teams from the past. No drama, girls who want to work and get better. That’s where we improved during the offseason

Who are a few of your “Players to Watch” in 2026?

-- Ashlynn Durden, senior, catcher — our only senior on the team. She’s our rock behind the plate and with our team. She’s a gap hitter with power. She has started for us since her freshman year. A veteran we will lean on for a team full of freshmen. As of now, she’s had a few D2 offers, but she’s not committed yet. -- Chloe Hill, junior, pitcher/corners — she is the only returning pitcher on the staff. Tons of power at the plate. -- Ansley Powell, junior, shortstop — one of the most complete players on the team. Power hitter, top-notch baserunner, solid defensively. Another player who has started at a crucial position since her freshman year. -- Paislee Rooks, freshman, pitcher — she will interchange in the rotation with Hill. We will rely on her in the pitching staff even though she’s young. She has great spin and a long frame. She’s a line drive hitter with some pop as well. -- Lily Brookshire, freshman, middle infielder — she is another complete player who can hit for power, swipe a base, and play crucial defense. A total team player who is a constant encourager.

Are there other coaches on your staff?

Billy Worthington — infield coach, hitting coach; Kristen Davis — 1st base coach; Harley Brown — pitching coach; Clint Hight — outfield coach and statistician

What do you anticipate will be the strengths for this year’s team?

Our offense is strong. We are dangerous with the long ball from top to bottom. During the summer, we scored 11 against North Murray, 17 against North Cobb, and 19 against Gilmer. Hitting, base-running, and scoring runs should be our strengths.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for this year’s team?

Pitching. We lost a veteran arm from last season in Ashlyn Carlton, who will be playing at Reinhardt. We returned Chloe Hill, but our other pitchers are either young or lack high school experience. Paislee Rooks and Heidi Rickett will be the freshmen who will get innings; Rooks in a starting role and Ricketts in relief. Ansley Powell can also log some innings on the mound.

Which teams in your region do you expect to challenge for state playoff berths? Did the new Postseason Ratings impact the way you have scheduled this year?

Heritage will be the biggest challenge. They have won the state title three years in a row and are historically one of the top softball programs in the state. We have been under the PSR for the past two seasons. Being in a tough region during this time, we were the first team out with an at-large bid and the second team out as well. I like the PSR because it rewards teams that play in tough regions and are not in the top four of their region. This is because some teams have made the playoffs due to the old rules, which gave automatic bids to four teams from each region, and we've been ranked higher in the PSR because of this. We have scheduled stronger out-of-region games this season against Northgate, Trion, Haralson County, and Banks County because we want the best competition to help us improve.

Are there any other comments you would like to include heading into this season?

We have a smaller squad this season, but more depth. Our underclassmen can enter at any time during the game and make an impact, changing the outcome.

Cartersville Hurricanes, head coach Glen Woodard

The Lady Canes have been in the state playoffs in each of the last four seasons and reached the Elite Eight in Columbus last year, finishing 30-6. Cartersville made the Sweet 16 in 2024 with a 24-7 mark. They were 21-11 in 2023, and 17-11-1 in 2022.

What are some of the biggest improvements you’ve seen for your team during summer and preseason workouts?

We have gotten stronger and faster.

Who are a few of your “Players to Watch” in 2026?

Pitcher -- Zoie Shiflett; Shortstop -- Lakiaya Banks; and 1st Base -- Kennedy Crenshaw

Are there other coaches on your staff?

Brian Adams hitting, Kenneth Crenshaw defense, and Mattie Johnson

What do you anticipate will be the strengths for this year’s team?

Playing together as a team.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for this year’s team?

Building on a 30-win season.

Which teams in your region do you expect to challenge for state playoff berths? Did the new Postseason Ratings impact the way you have scheduled this year?

Cedartown and Cass. If you play a good schedule, then the power ranking will take care of itself.

Are there any other comments you would like to include heading into this season?

Go Canes!

Cass Colonels, head coach Steve Spell

First-year head coach Steve Spell takes over a program that finished 18-8 last season and 15-6 in Region 7-AAAA, but lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Pace Academy. The Lady Colonels have qualified for the state playoffs in five of the last six seasons, going 17-11 in 2024, 9-18 in 2023, 10-21 in 2022, 11-13 in 2021, and 17-17 in 2020.

What are some of the biggest improvements you’ve seen for your team during summer and preseason workouts?

The two biggest things. 1) As a whole, we got pretty comfortable with being uncomfortable. We made some huge strides in the weight room, and the girls bought into pushing themselves past their limits to build some confidence, handle failure, and become closer as a team. 2) We got pretty good at doing simple things better over the summer.

Who are a few of your “Players to Watch” in 2026?

Kylie Gentry 2028, P/3B, Natalie Hughes CF 2029, Shyia Woods 2029 SS, Abagail Nails P/UTIL 2029, Kharmyn Collum C/1B 2030, and Addy Bauder C 2030.

Are there other coaches on your staff?

Sydney Chambley. There is only two of us this year as we lost an assistant in July, and could not find another in time. It will be very hands-on for both of us. She has been awesome all summer, and I’m super blessed to have her on board!

What do you anticipate will be the strengths for this year’s team?

We will be able to pitch and defend at a high level. Also, very athletic top to bottom in the lineup with some pop in the middle.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for this year’s team?

We are a pretty young group. We only have one senior, but we have some girls with significant player experience as underclassmen who will have to step up as leaders.

Which teams in your region do you expect to challenge for state playoff berths? Did the new Postseason Ratings impact the way you have scheduled this year?

Cartersville, Cass, Cedartown, Allatoona, Villa Rica, and Woodland will all be in the hunt. This is a very strong region top to bottom. There are really no games you can walk into relaxed throughout region play. We are playing a tough non-region schedule, and we will see schools like Gordon Lee, Calhoun 2X, Trion, and Gilmer. It for sure had an impact on scheduling. We really wanted opponents who would challenge us and give us a chance to boost our PSR if it goes well. We also scheduled most of our non-region games on the road or neutral sites to give us a chance to earn more points.

Are there any other comments you would like to include heading into this season?

Go Colonels!

Woodland Wildcats, head coach Jackson Cargle

Coach Cargle takes over a Woodland program that has missed the state playoffs each of the last two seasons after a lengthy string of playoff appearances. The Wildcats were 11-16 last season and 7-15 in 2024, after going 20-12 in 2023; 17-17 in 2022; 19-16-2 in 2021; and 25-11 in 2020.

What are some of the biggest improvements you’ve seen for your team during summer and preseason workouts?

Cohesiveness, working together as a team, and practicing hard.

Who are a few of your “Players to Watch” in 2026?

Bailey Ryan SS/CF/UT Senior; Evie Tucker P Junior; Gracie Korb OF Junior; and Sonny Hicks IF Sophomore

Are there other coaches on your staff?

Nick Shields, Kendra Dabsoub, and Peyton Posey

What do you anticipate will be the strengths for this year’s team?

Solid defense, throwing strikes, putting balls in play, and running bases well.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for this year’s team?

The jury is still out.

Which teams in your region do you expect to challenge for state playoff berths? Did the new Postseason Ratings impact the way you have scheduled this year?

Not sure.