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The Bainbridge High School Lady Cats softball team is set to begin their playoff journey as they open the 2022 GHSA Fastpitch Softball Super Regionals against Howard. The Lady Cats enter the super regionals after a tremendous regular season finishing 13-8 overall, going 10-2 in region finishing in second just behind Cairo. 

Going into their matchup against Howard, the Lady Cats are facing an extremely similar team. Although the Howard Huskies finished the season with a 10-11 regular season record, the Huskies went 7-5 in region winning six of their games at home which is one less than the Bearcats home record of 7-2. 

Lady Cats Head Coach Rex Wade enters the playoffs for the first time as Lady Cats head coach after a dominant regular season. Coach Wade knows the intensity of the super regionals and knows not to take any opponent lightly. 

“Championship is always the goal and the mindset but we’re going to take it one game at a time and focus on the present,” said Wade. “There are some really good opponents in the playoffs this season and we’re going to have to make sure we’re at the top of our game. Our girls are excited for the opportunity.”

The story of the season for the Lady Cats has been their defense. With Brenna Conley throwing two perfect games and the defense being what Coach Wade likes to call “boring”, the Lady Cats defense has held opponents to just over 1.3 runs per game in their 13 wins. 

“Everyone has heard me talk about it all season from day one. Defense is our core philosophy,” said Wade. “We work on it every day and it is the strength of this team. We have done a great job executing and need to continue that into the playoffs.”

Aside from the defense, the Lady Cats offense has also been spectacular, averaging 13.8 runs per game in their victories, while putting opponents away in the mercy rule seven times. A big reason for the offensive success has been situational hitting. 

“We do a great job of getting runners on base and pushing them across but what really makes a difference is situational hitting,” said Wade. “We practice it all the time, you know, two strike approach, one out approach, all that kind of stuff. We’re able to be mentally smart at the plate and that contributes to success.”

In the 2022 GHSA Super Regionals the Lady Cats are at the top of the Class 4A Position F Bracket as they take on Howard. If the Lady Cats Secure a win, they would advance to the semifinals where they would take on the winner of Whitehead vs Burke County. A loss does not fully eliminate the Lady Cats, but they would have to win an additional game to get back to the Championship. 

The Lady Cats will take on Howard on Tuesday Oct. 18 and the Championship will take place on October 19.