Last year at this time, both former Gans Lady Grizzlies softball coach Laney James and her assistant Jacklyn Green weren’t put in place in those coaching posts until late summer break. Thus, there was little time to get the Lady Grizzlies into fast-pitch softball mode.
That didn’t happen this summer. After James took an assistant basketball coaching job with Fort Smith (Ark.) Southside in May, Green ended up being promoted to the head softball coaching position.
“Last year, even though Laney was here for basketball, it was both of our first year for softball,” Green said. “When July (2023) rolled around, we were trying to get in touch with all the girls and trying to get practices rolling. This year, I was able to do all of that a little bit in advance.”
To say Green is ecstatic about the chance she has been awarded is an understatement.
“I am very excited,” she said. “I just have an eternal love for the game of softball.”
Even though the decision had not been made until later in summer break to promote Green to the head softball coaching job, she still felt the need to get the ball rolling as far as summer practice was concerned.
“Even though I didn’t know whether I had gotten the position yet or not, before school ended, I was able to go ahead and send out notes about when we would start during the summer because I was the assistant, and I was going ahead and doing all the scheduling and getting ready for upcoming year,” Green said. “Even if they had hired a different coach, I was going to continue to be the assistant. So, I was able to keep things rolling and keep the girls on the same page. It was good for continuity. It made the flow a bit smoother.”
Green said she has seen the Lady Grizzlies get better in just this summer’s practices.
“We’ve already seen a lot of improvement in just the few short weeks that started (to have summer practice),” she said. “The girls are really working hard. We’ve got a couple of pitchers. I think we’ll be a team to watch this year.”
Not only has there been improvement this summer, there also is also going to be a good time had by all for this new fast-pitch season, which will begin at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Webbers Falls.
“I think it’s going to be fun for everybody,” Green said. “That’s what athletics is really about in school. If they’re not having fun, that’s when the drama starts. That’s when they want to quit. You have a hard time getting them to show up. Yes, we’re going to work hard, but we’re going to have fun together.”
