Walker wants Terrell Academy Lady Eagles battle-tested

DAWSON — Ashley Walker isn’t interested in protecting his softball team.

He’s interested in preparing it.

That’s why the Terrell Academy coach has built one of the toughest schedules in the GIAA, one that features every defending state champion and offers little chance to ease into the season. The Lady Eagles open Aug. 4 in Damascus against defending GIAA Class AA champion Southwest Georgia before embarking on a schedule Walker hopes will forge a championship-caliber team by October.

Walker knows the approach could cost his team a few games. He also believes it could pay off when the games matter most.

“We might lose some games,” Walker said. “But I want us to be battle-tested once we get to the tournament in October.”

That process begins next week when the Lady Eagles travel to Georgia Southern University for a three-day Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp. Terrell Academy expects to play four or five games during the camp while continuing to shape a team that graduated four seniors from last year’s region championship squad.

“We are going to use that time to build ourselves as a team,” Walker said. “I see a good softball team. But we’ve got some holes to fill and our main goal right now is finding out how the puzzle is going to fit together.”

Walker likes the pieces he has.

The Lady Eagles return four seniors from a team that finished 21-8, won the region championship and finished No. 2 in the final GIAA MaxPreps rankings. Senior Karoline Pressley returns after serving as Terrell Academy’s No. 1 pitcher last season, giving the Lady Eagles an experienced arm around which to build.

Several familiar faces from Terrell Academy’s GIAA state championship basketball team are also back on the softball diamond, including Hadley Webb and Lily Addison.

Walker expects both to play key roles.

“Lily is moving from first base to work behind the plate,” he said. “Hadley is going to be an important big bat for our team this year.”

Depth could prove to be another strength.

Walker said the Lady Eagles have four seniors and a balanced roster throughout the remaining classes, while an incoming freshman class has already begun pushing veterans for playing time during preseason workouts.

“We have a very balanced team,” Walker said. “We’ve got four seniors, and about four in each grade. We have some really talented freshmen coming in and pushing for time right now.”

The regular season won’t offer many breathers.

Terrell Academy moves into a revamped region that includes nine-time defending GIAA state champion Westfield, along with Deerfield-Windsor, Tiftarea and Central Fellowship. Walker welcomes the opportunity to see the state’s best teams before the postseason arrives.

“Westfield is on top of the mountain and has been for a long time,” Walker said. “I like that we are now in the same region because we will see that level of competition earlier and help us get better as we head toward the state tournament.”

There is risk in playing the best teams on the schedule before Labor Day. There is also opportunity.

Walker would rather expose his team to pressure now than introduce it in October.

If his plan works, the Lady Eagles won’t arrive at the state tournament wondering whether they’re ready.

They’ll already know.