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At the midpoint of the regular season, Coach Rodney Rogers made it clear to his All-Star shortstop Elizabeth Stoyle that this would finally be the year they win the state championship. Elizabeth, “E” as known by her teammates, found it hard to believe what her coach was telling her especially after hearing the same thing for 4 years. Much to her surprise, her coaches were already confident that the formula they mixed had enough potency to win a state title. For Stoyle, along with Kayla Argo and Taylor Garrison, this was their final shot at winning a senior league state championship. Both Argo and Stoyle were taking their fifth shot at the title while teammate Taylor Garrison was making her third appearance in the state tournament. With a combined team effort and that right mixture of talent, coaches Rodney Rogers, Jeff Garrison, and Lance Wade made sure these three girls would go out with a bang this time around. “Eight girls from this year’s team played last year and were heartbroken and they have been waiting since last July for the chance to play for state again,” said Rogers. “This has been a long time coming for many of these girls as they have made 4 to 5 runs at a state championship.”
With a little more talent added to the formula in 2012, the Senior League All-Star girls have claimed the District 7 title as well as the state championship and are ready to represent Georgia in the Southeastern Regional Tournament in Ft. Myers Florida July 28. This season’s formula had a little northern flavor in the mix with the addition of Dani Lukas; the new kid on the block from New York. Lukas was the winning pitcher in all four state tournament games for Madison County. Her resume reads; seventeen innings pitched allowing just eight runs on eleven hits while tossing 14 strikeouts with just one walk allowed. Not to go unnoticed was Lukas and teammate Elizabeth Stoyle’s team high of seven hits each in the tournament. Despite her success in the tournament, Lukas would be the first to tell anyone that her performance wouldn’t have been possible without a great group of teammates wearing the red and black. Behind Lukas was an outstanding defense that made three diving catches from Anna McCarty, KC Wade, and Kayla Argo. All three highlight plays came at key moments of each game.
This same mixture of talent outscored their opponents 42-9 in the four games.
Each player played a key role from the pinch running of McCarty and Kirsten Casper to Brianna Morgan’s duties sporting the catcher’s equipment behind the plate working each game in the heat. There wasn’t one player that didn’t give an all out effort while facing the tough competition of West Point, Western of Macon, Oglethorpe County and Pioneer of Columbus.
The right formula for success reached beyond those playing inside the white lines however. Madison County’s (football turn softball) version of the 12th man made an impact. The parents and fans that pulled the coolers of water to the stands in their red wagons each game and pitched tents for shade all represented Madison County in fine fashion. Coach Rodney Rogers expressed his appreciation to all of the parents for their part in making this All-Star run a success. “I would like to thank the parents of the girls for bringing them to each practice and for being understanding when I made some bad decisions from time to time,” said Rogers.
The road to the championship didn’t end at Criswell Park in Monroe with the state championship title. Madison County is now poised at making a run for the regional championship and then who knows maybe a slot at the World Series. The right formula might just be in the mix.
Win or lose, this will be a season to remember for these ladies. “No matter what happens in their lives they will always be the 2012 State Champions and no one can ever take that from them,” said Rogers.
