The South Paulding Lady Spartans were 10-3-1 overall and 4-0 in their region last week as they wrapped up two weeks packed with 14 games and prepared for their Aug. 30 matchup against East Paulding.

In order to be so successful with this kind of schedule, all the players had to work hard and together, said head softball coach Janet Oglesby.

“I am pleased with the way our team is playing right now. We have had a tough schedule early in the season, playing 14 games in 13 days,” she said.

“When [the Georgia High School Association] changed the scheduling, it got crazy. We hit the ground running,” she said, in reference to the new region alignment this year.

Playing so many games in a short time span, sometimes having three games in one day, Oglesby said the games affected her players in various ways.

“Playing so many games back to back you have a tendency to get tired, mentally and physically. We have faced some adversity with injuries and illnesses but I have been proud of the way the players have responded and stepped up,” Oglesby said.

Even through the sickness and fatigue, the Lady Spartans have continued to go strong and stay at the top of their region.

“Over the course of the two weeks, our hitting has been consistent, with several players batting over .300 and our team batting average higher than it has ever been. Pitching has also been consistent as we have rotated three pitchers and all have pitched well,” Oglesby said.

The main pitcher for South Paulding is sophomore Madason Messer, currently holding a 7-0 pitching record for the season along with a 1.49 ERA.

Other key players Oglesby said have been making good plays and saves for the Spartans are junior AnnDee Priest at first base, senior Kayla Durham at catcher and senior Ansley Weatherford at shortstop.

“We have several players who are playing well which is why we are so successful. We have different people doing different things well,” Oglesby said.