End of an era: Lady Jags victorious on senior night

As senior outfielder Indiya Brightwell walked from second base to the pitcher’s mound, her parents and sister on either side, she was overcome with emotion. For five years, Brightwell played on the Cedar Shoals softball team, watching teammates come and go. Now it was her turn. 

“I thought that I was going to cry,” Brightwell said. “My parents and siblings were there, having them come was really special, and having walkup songs with everyone cheering, calling your name. It felt like a movie.”

The Lady Jags captured an emotional victory on senior night, beating the Lithonia Bulldogs 20-1, holding them scoreless until the third inning. The group of eight seniors is the most successful class in Cedar Shoals softball history, and was a vital part of last year’s record-breaking season, when the Lady Jags set a new record of nine wins in a season. 

All eight seniors started and finished the game, recording 19 of the 20 runs for the Jags, with Brightwell, infielder Maria Payne, utility Kira Law, and pitcher/catchers Estelle Grindeland and Isabella Morgan all scoring three runs each. 

Morgan, who started on the mound, hit an inside-the-park home run in the second inning, followed by two more the next week, and drove in four runs. 

“I thought we played pretty well,” Brightwell said. “I still think we can play better though.”

The Lady Jags’ nine hits tied for the third most this season, the only game with more than one triple, courtesy of Law and infielder Ariele Hill, who also recorded two RBI.

‘It’s been a group effort,” Brightwell said. “Every one of us brings something different to the table, it’s my favorite thing about the team.”

Photos by Ethan Greene