By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It was a productive few days for the LaGrange High softball family.

The players and coaches participated in a team camp in Carrollton last week, with the coaches at the University of West Georgia serving as the primary instructors.

“We had a really good time,” said Gabby Heath, LaGrange’s head coach. “We were able to move kids around to different spots, because we’re going to have people playing in positions different than they’re used to. We were trying to figure out where we’re going to put everybody, and it let us have that opportunity to move people around, and see what we could do.”

The camp was held on Monday and Tuesday, and it was a busy few days.

The teams received on-field instruction from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. each day, and they played games from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

“They worked super-hard the whole time they were there,” Heath said.

In addition to coaches from West Georgia, some college-softball players also offered instruction during the camp. One of those players was former Heard County standout Anna Shelnutt, who won a national championship at Florida State in 2018.

“They were able to talk to some college players,” Heath said. “Anna Shelnutt was there providing instruction. So we were able to get instruction from college coaches and college players. They just really enjoyed it hearing it from someone different from their current coaching staff.”

In addition to the valuable instruction the players received, Heath felt the camp was a helpful way to make the newcomers feel welcome.

“We always have to include new girls with the existing ones,” Heath said. “So it’s a good time for them to get to know each other, and really incorporate the new girls.”

LaGrange, which went 22-9 last year and lost a hard-fought state-tournament series to Oconee County, opens its season on Aug. 3 with games