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PAGE 12B BARROW JOURNAL • BARROW COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016 Spotlight: Winder-Barrow High School softball DIAMOND DAYS RETURN Cathleen Nugue and the Winder-Barrow High School softball team are preparing for the upcoming sea son. The Lady Bulldoggs are competing in Region 8-AAAAAA this fall. Photos by Jesscia Brown THE CORRECT FORM Under the guidance of coach Monty McClure, members of the WBHS softball team continue prepara tions for the new season. McClure has helped build the program into a consistent state playoff qualifer. Lady Doggs prepare for new season By Chris Bridges Journal Sports Editor The 2016 Winder-Bar row High School softball team will have plenty of experience when it comes to varsity competition. Coach Monty McClure is hoping that experi ence translates to success although the Lady Dogg mentor knows nothing is guaranteed. WBHS has seven seniors and 10 juniors for the upcoming season as it pre pares for a new region and classification. “We haven’t done any thing, yet,” McClure said. “That is something we are stressing to the play- Comina Up: •hosts Loganville, Aug. 11, 5:30 p.m. •hosts Habersham Cen tral, 6:30 p.m. ers. In terms of depth and experience, we should be good, at least on paper. Of course, it remains to be seen how that translates to success on the field.” In past years, the Lady Bulldoggs had to fend off up to six quality teams to advance to the postseason. Now the program is com peting in a region with six teams. McClure doesn't expect things to be auto matically easier, however. “Apalachee, Lanier and Habersham Central are all good,” the coach said. “Even Gainesville is much improved.” Dacula, a new region foe for WBHS, may be the best team going into the season, McClure noted. The Lady Bulldoggs are hoping to finish high enough in the region to be a host team in the state tournament. The overall numbers in the program are as high as they have ever been. McClure said varsity, junior varsity and fresh man teams will be fielded this season. “It gives everyone a chance to get playing time,” the coach said earli er this week. 7 ^ h0E * ba *\ -ADDYDOCCS sof tball camp PLENTY OF PRACTICE A quality offseason has helped prepare the WBHS softball team for the upcoming cam paign. PREPARING FOR PRACTICE WBHS goes through pre-practice exercises Monday afternoon. The Lady Doggs returned to class for the first day of the 2016-2017 school year before making the trek to the practice field. THE RETURN OF SOFTBALL Lauren Hawkins and the Lady Bulldoggs will open the 2016 season next week against former region foe Loganville High School. FALL CAMPAIGN Bailey Boswell (front) and members of the WBHS softball team are looking toward to next week’s season opener. The Lady Bulldoggs are hoping to be one of the four teams from the region to qualify for state. Buy Like A Local. 4 Counties, 4 Zip Codes Riacliin v Graham-Leex& Fred Willis 1 Buy Local Braselton wrm Frederick’s Jewelers 6323 Grand Hickory Dr • Braselton Only In Braselton BUY LOCAL. BE LOCAL