Suwannee softball gains momentum heading into district showdown

Published 3:00 pm Friday, March 9, 2018

Sophomore Maci Brown has been a steady presence for Suwannee this season in the field and at the plate. She’s hitting .345 with two home runs and leading an offense that is starting to find its rhythm. 

LIVE OAK — It’s been a good stretch of softball for Suwannee the past six games.

After four straight losses to the begin the regular season, the Bulldogs are starting to turn things around. They’ve cut down on errors, scored more runs and started hitting for power. The result has been a 4-2 record in the last six games.

Their most recent win was a 9-4 throttling of Santa Fe on Tuesday — the same Santa Fe team that beat them 14-0 on Feb. 20. It’s pretty good timing for Suwannee as it gets set to host district foe Baker County tonight in a big early-season matchup.

“We have a lot of girls that are really good hitters. They started clicking,” Suwannee coach Jeff Smith said of his team’s recent success.

“Baker is one of our tough competitors and the team to beat in the district. Playing like we did against Sante Fe, hopefully we’ll take that into the Baker County game.”

Email newsletter signup

After scoring just four runs total in their first four games, the Bulldogs have exploded for 39 runs in the last six games while hitting .311 as a team.

SHS has hit six home runs in those six games, three of those coming from shortstop/third baseman Savannah Brown.

“Our first few games opened our eyes that we needed to practice harder and work harder,” said Brown, who is hitting .700 in her last 10 at-bats.

“We finally started hitting solid.”

Suwannee has also made big strides defensively. During the four-game losing streak, SHS averaged four errors per game. In the last six contests, the Bulldogs are committing two errors per game.

That’s translated into less runs for the opposition and also fewer pitches for ace Brandi Davis.

“It really helps,” Davis said of her team’s improved defense. “Because when you have so many pitches, so many spins — it takes a toll.

“We have the talent. We just have to show everyone what we’re made of.”

Baker County enters today’s game with a 6-3 record and 1-0 mark in district play after a win against Bolles.