GREENVILLE – The Lady Wave Softball team hosted the Centerville Lady Elks in a Saturday preseason scrimmage at Stebbins Field Lady Wave Stadium under the direction of veteran Hall of Fame coach, Jerrod Newland as he enters his 21st season at the helm of LWSB.
“I’m just so excited for the kids, the program, love what’s going on at the school, love what’s going on at the middle school, the fields, I love what’s going on out here at GGSA and love what’s going on at the Academy,” said Newland. “Just great things for softball here for Greenville City Schools.”
Many Lady Wave players were excused by Coach Newland to attend an academic school function while the Lady Elks sent a split squad to Greenville for the early season scrimmage.
“Every year is a new year where expectations of the kids and your roles change,” Newland noted. “They don’t change weekly, they change daily.”
The Lady Wave program numbers 50 athletes going into the 2024 season with the high school numbering 23 players while the seventh and eighth grade programs put 27 young Lady Wave athletes on the diamonds.
“A great day – 14 kids out here playing today playing good softball here,” Newland stated. “The suns out, winds out and a week from today it all begins regular season. Excited for the program and the kids and a lot of kids getting opportunities. The success of us will be players seven through 14 this year. I am excited for kids to get opportunities, and play different positions.”
“I’m excited for the kids to competitively push each other and it will all work out. Hopefully, we’re smart enough as a staff to put them in places to do right so Lady Wave Softball can win some games this spring.”
“It’s making plays and having fun,” Coach Newland concluded. “A lot of family and friends out here, the birds chirping, it’s a sign of spring and next Saturday we’ll open up. Excited for where we’re at and excited for some young kids’ opportunities in the program.”
