By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It’s their final go-around.

A trio of seniors are embarking on their last seasons as members of the Troup High softball team, and they’ll get things started on Saturday.

Troup will host the HOPE For A Day games, with Callaway and LaGrange also participating.

Leading the way for Troup are seniors Skye Loftin, Olivia McInvale and Tashauna Askew, who have each been members of the varsity team since they were freshmen.

McInvale, an outfielder, is anxious to see what the team can accomplish in the next few months.

“We have so much talent, and we have so much potential,” McInvale said. “Our main thing is we don’t need to have a good team of individual players. We need to have a good team, of team players that will do anything for each other. We have so much talent, and so much potential on the team right now.”

Askew has tried to make the newcomers feel at home, and let them know they’ll have plenty of support.

“It’s about making sure everybody feels like a family,” Askew said. “We want to welcome them. We’re a family, we’re your sisters. We’re here for you. If you need to be picked up during a game, we’ve got your back.”

For Loftin and McInvale, the season will mean even more since they’ll be on the same team with their sisters.

Sage Loftin and Caroline McInvale are part of a talented group of freshmen who will be a key part of the team this season.

Skye Loftin has a message for her sister, and all of the young players.

“Me and Olivia, we have two sisters that are freshmen. We want to make sure they’re doing the right thing,” Loftin said. “We want to make sure they’re leaders, too. You can’t have a team of followers. Everybody has to be a leader in their own way. That’s what we’ve preached to them, to hold their own weight.”

For each of the seniors, being a member of the Troup softball family has been a special and rewarding experience.

Through the ups and the downs, the seniors know they’ve had each other to lean on.

“I love Troup softball so much,” Loftin said. “I’m going to be so sad when I leave. It’s always been like a family to me.”

McInvale arrived at Troup as a freshman, and she said she “didn’t know anybody.”

“It’s been really great to get to know them,” McInvale added. “It’s going to be really sad when we’re gone.”

Askew, while putting her arms around her friends and fellow seniors, said the most special part of being a Troup softball player has been “the friendships I’ve formed.”

In addition to the three seniors, Troup has a handful of other experienced players, including juniors Hadleigh Livingston and Emilee Johnson.

Coach Kayla Yeargin will also count on the freshmen to contribute.

“We have a load of freshmen,” Yeargin said. “That’s great. It’s exciting that it’s a young team.”

After a productive summer, Yeargin said her team is ready to roll.

“Our word for the week has been intensity,” Yeargin said. “Just make sure you keep your intensity level up. We have talent, and so many options. Just know that if you take one pitch off, or one groundball off, that’s when somebody else can step in. The competition is awesome, and they’re pushing each other.”