By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

HOGANSVILLE – They’ve been fixtures in the Callaway lineup for four years, and following Monday’s 5-3 loss to Brookstone, seniors Kelly Carlisle and Skylar Rice were recognized for their contributions to the softball program.

It was the final regular-season game for Callaway, which will play in the Region 5-AA softball tournament on Saturday.

“Kelly started two years in the outfield, two years at shortstop,” said Ashley Summerlin, Callaway’s head coach. “Skylar started three years at first, and one year in the outfield, and she’s been a pitcher for us. They basically held down the top and the middle of our lineup for four years. They’re two good ones, two good kids that you want to be the head of the program, and they’ve done a good job for us. You blink your eyes. One day they’re freshmen, and one day they’re leaving.”

Carlisle and Rice still have some softball to be played.

On Saturday, the Lady Cavaliers will play two games in the region tournament, and they’ll play at least two more games in the state playoffs.

Callaway finished third in the region, so it will play the as yet undetermined number two team on Saturday.

If Callaway wins that game, it will play for the region championship while also securing home-field advantage for the opening round of the state tournament.

If Callaway loses its first game on Saturday, it will play another game to determine the region’s third and fourth seeds for state.

Who the number two seed for the region tournament will be determined following today’s game between Heard County and Lamar County.

“If we play the way we’re capable, and do what needs to be done, we’ll have a chance,” Summerlin said. “Like I tell the girls, just keep it close until the end, and we’ll see what happens. Put pressure on somebody, and see how they react to pressure. So we’ll go there and try to win, and do the best we can do, and when it’s all said and done, we’ll figure out where we are, and we’ll flip the page and start something else.”

In Monday’s game, Callaway scored single runs in the second, fourth and seventh innings.

Kourtney Grier hit a solo home run for Callaway in the second inning

Carlisle, hitting in the leadoff spot, had a triple, Oeisha Jenkins had a hit and a walk, and Lydia Bartlett had a hit.

Jenkins pitched for Callaway.

“We didn’t play horrible tonight,” Summerlin said. “We had one inning where we had some miscues, and it didn’t work out for us. Brookstone, they’re a good team. They’re coached well.”