By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

For four consecutive years, Maddie Weathers was penciled in as Troup’s starting catcher.

During her time at Troup, Weathers caught nearly every inning of every game, and she was consistently one of the team’s top hitters.

“There were maybe three innings out of her four years where she wasn’t behind the plate,” Troup head coach Kayla Yeargin said.

Weathers has graduated and is preparing for her freshman season at Georgia Military College, which means somebody new will be behind the plate when Troup opens its season today against LaGrange and Callaway at Granger Park.

Yeargin said a trio of players have been working at catcher throughout the summer, and they’ll each get a look during a busy first week of the season.

“We’ve challenged them all. You’re fighting for it, and it’s been good,” Yeargin said. “We’re real excited about the 10 games in the next eight days coming up.”

While there’s a question mark at the catcher position, it’ll be a veteran Troup team that takes the field for today’s opener.

Leading the way are seniors Kayla Lane and Madison McCartney, who have both been starting for four seasons.

Other returning players include Skye Loftin, Hadleigh Livingston, Olivia McInvale, Christina Garcia, Skye Loftin and Mackenzie Miller.

Miller split time with senior Abby Taylor on the mound last season, and she’ll begin this season as the number one pitcher.

Yeargin said freshman Avery Pearson has a bright future at pitcher.

“We’re real excited to see her on the mound,” Yeargin said. “She’ll start out as a freshman, and we can see her progress the next four years.”

Yeargin said Pearson is part of a talented group of players who’ll be a part of the program for years to come.

“We’ve got so many freshmen coming in with great talent,” Yeargin said. “And it’s always nice that we have a solid foundation left over from last year.”