By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Facing some of the best youth softball players in the country isn’t a bad way to get ready for the high-school softball season.

A trio of local players, LaGrange High’s Emily Anderson and Karsin Spinks, and LaGrange Academy’s Sumer Coile, play on the same travel softball team, and next week they’ll participate in the 14-and-under Amateur Softball Association (ASA) national tournament in Illinois.

Anderson, Spinks and Coile play for the Georgia Impact Black, which is one of 17 teams that falls under the umbrella of the Georgia Impact softball program.

In the 14-and-under division, the Impact Black is one of seven teams from Georgia that made it to nationals.

Anderson, Spinks and Coile each said they’re eager to test their skills against the best players in the country.

“I’m looking forward to it, but you are kind of nervous because you’re facing the best teams” said Anderson, who could be in line to be the Lady Grangers’ starting pitcher this season.

Anderson works hard at her craft.

In addition to playing for the Impact, Anderson also works out regularly with a pitching coach.

And when she doesn’t have a team practice or session with her coach, she’s often tossing balls to her dad, Jay Anderson, who is the head coach for the Troup National 11-12-year-old baseball team that won the Dixie Youth Baseball state championship.

“I practice almost every day,” she said. “You kind of have to.”

Spinks, who’ll also be a freshman at LaGrange High this season, is an outfielder.

Spinks said she expects to have a few butterflies when tournament time arrives, but she’s eager to see how the team will do.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “It’s my first time (at nationals), so I’m really nervous. But I’m ready to go up there and win, hopefully.”

Coile is getting ready for her second year of high school, but she will be at a different school.

After playing at Callaway High a year ago, Coile has transfered to LaGrange Academy.

Coile said going to nationals is a nice reward for a lot of hard work by everyone on the team.

“We’ve been working so hard to get here,” she said.

As far as the tournament, Coile said “it makes me nervous, but I’m looking forward to it. We all are.”

The opening ceremony for the tournament in Moline will be Sunday, and the games kick off on Monday.

The tournament runs through Aug. 8.