Top-ranked Baconton Charter hopes to make run at state tournament

BACONTON — Three years ago when Baconton Charter made its first trip to the state softball tournament finals in Columbus, a trio of freshmen and coach Bubber Birdsong admired the great facility at South Commons Park.

“We showed up three years ago and we were tourists … we were just glad to be there,” Birdsong said. “We were taking pictures, buying T-shirts and enjoying the moment.”

When the Lady Blazers return Thursday to play in the Class A public school tournament, they will do so as the top-ranked team that has notched a school-record 26 wins, won the gold bracket at the prestigious Jordan Invitational in Columbus earlier this year and are coming off back-to-back Region 1-A titles.

Baconton (26-2) will meet Schley County at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. A victory in the double-elimination tournament will send them against the ECI-Trion winner at 6 p.m. However, a loss would send the Lady Blazers into the loser’s bracket where they would have to win three games on Friday to advance to Saturday.

The Lady Blazers have four seniors — Ashley Meyer, Gracie Cranford, Kloe Daughtry and Emily Everson. With the exception of Everson, the remaining seniors were part of the 2012 group that made the state tournament.

But since that two-and-out trip three years ago, the group helped Baconton raise a region title banner two straight seasons. The blue “back-to-back” region championship sign when you enter the Baconton softball complex is a symbol of pride.

“It’s cool to be a part of this,” Meyer said. “Everybody put in a lot of hard work to get that sign put up.”

But the team admits their approach to the state tournament will be different.

“Our motto has been from Columbus to Columbus,” Everson said, referencing starting the season at the Jordan Invitational. “It started in Columbus and our goal has been to get back there.”

While the team’s mission has been accomplished, they know there is still work to do.

But the seniors hope to keep a talented group of underclassmen grounded. Daughtry hopes with a handful of the players knowing what to expect, the team won’t be overwhelmed.

“That was the first time in history we had been there (in 2012),” Daughtry said. “But I think we have gotten so much better.”

Birdsong said part of the team’s focus this season was because of a loss last year to Johnson County when the Lady Blazers left the winning run standing on second base, denying them a chance to go to Columbus.

“I think that fueled a little bit of fire in them,” he said. “Everything has fallen into place this year. We’ve gotten solid defense and enough timely hitting to keep rolling.

“In 2012, that was unchartered territory for us. We’re going to go up there and try to win some ball games.”

The Lady Blazers believe they have the talent to make it to Saturday’s championship game, but they don’t want to look that far ahead. They’ve played with the proverbial target on their back for most of the season, and Birdsong believes they’ve handle it well.

“We’ve survived it,” he said. “We played several big schools in a Gainesville tournament earlier this season. They’ve answered the bell so far. I think I’ll take my chances with this group.”