FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA - The 2022 Emmanuel Softball Team etched their names in the record books in various ways throughout this historic season.
One of those moments came on Wednesday, April 20th. The Lions entered the day having matched the program record of wins in a season at 32, thanks to a sweep of Southern Wesleyan on the previous Thursday, April 14. The afternoon began with tearful celebrations and heartwarming notes from the four seniors, Sadie Worth, Lily Shelton, Ally Harris, and Donna Mayo.
After the flowers were dispersed and pictures taken, the Lions faced a tough task: the 16th ranked North Georgia Nighthawks. The two teams had met 18 times before, but Emmanuel was 1-17. The lone victory came in 2002, two decades earlier.
However, unbeknownst to everyone, the two teams had something, or rather someone, in common: Coach Ricky Sanders. Coach Sanders was the first fast pitch softball coach at the University of North Georgia, where he helmed the team from 1996-2000. Then, in 2003, Coach Sanders took command of the Emmanuel fast pitch softball program. He would coach the Lions until 2012, covering nine seasons. This included the winningest season in program history, 2008. The '08 Lady Lions finished with a final record of 32-22-1. This mark held for 14 years, until this fateful Wednesday. A doubleheader sweep of the #16 Nighthawks put the ladies at 34 wins, permanently passing the previous record.
Coach Sanders had this to say about the 2022 team's accomplishments:
"Congratulations to the 2022 Lady Lions softball players and coaches on breaking the single season victory record set by the 2008 team. You should be very proud of your accomplishment and all former players and coaches will be cheering you on for years to come. Good luck and God Bless!"
In 2022, second year Head Coach Kevin Fagan has taken the program to new heights. Winning the 2021 Conference Carolinas Championship as an 8 seed was an incredible start, but Coach Fagan is showing that's all that it was: the start. He had this to say about breaking the program win record this season:
"It's an honor to set a program record. I'm proud of these ladies and all they've accomplished. We're just going to keep doing the best we can to get better every day, every week, and every year and we'll see where it takes us."
Along with breaking the program win record, the softball team also boasted a 4-2 record against top 25 ranked opponents this year. In addition to the historic sweep of North Georgia, the Lions defeated Lincoln Memorial on February 25th, 3-1 after two extra innings. The Railsplitters were ranked 14th in the country at the time. On March 15th, the Lions defeated Anderson 2-1. The Trojans were ranked 24th at the time and would finish the season first in the southeast region with a 37-7 record. Emmanuel also beat four of the top eight teams in the Southeast Region at least once during the season.
Individually, many of the ladies also achieved historic accomplishments. Before this year, no Emmanuel softball player had been a first team all-conference selection since Emmanuel joined Conference Carolinas in 2015. Noelle Petty (utility) and Caitlin Parks (catcher) were second-team honorees in 2018, while Kya Santiago (outfield) was a second team selection in 2021 (No post season accolades were awarded in 2020 due to the pandemic). Now, in 2022, sophomores Chloe Nadler (catcher) and Kya Santiago (outfield) were both voted first team all-conference. In addition, four Lions earned second team selections. Juniors Mackensie Hogan (1b), Glory Thompson (2b), and Lily Shelton (utility), along with freshman Kyna Cheney (outfield). This year, Conference Carolinas introduced the softball All-Defensive team and named winners for the first time. The all-conference teams are awarded by position, but mostly based on batting statistics. This new team was created to recognize those that excelled in fielding. Nadler and Santiago were named to the all-defensive team. Both ladies were error-free in league play this season.
Additionally, senior Ally Harris and freshman Lexi Jordan were named to the all-tournament team after play concluded at the 2022 Conference Carolinas championship. That makes a total of eight Emmanuel softball ladies to receive postseason honors, also a program record. Five ladies were all-conference selections in 2007 and 2008 as part of the Southern States Athletic Conference in the NAIA. That included Heather Vaughn, who was the NAIA player of the year in 2008 and still holds the SSAC record for highest single season batting average (.527).
The softball team included 15 freshmen and sophomores in 2022, and of the eight ladies to receive postseason honors, six will return next year. This truly is the beginning of a new era for Emmanuel softball.
For more on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.
