Dacula, Ga. - Going into her fourth season as head coach of the Hebron Christian Academy softball team, Brittany Lewis has led the Lions to consecutive state championship games in 2023 and 2024.
However, they fell short in both, with Wesleyan School claiming back-to-back titles over the Lions.
Last season, Hebron won five-straight games to start the GHSA Private State Tournament, but dropped the final two games against the Wolves, the later being a one-run loss in nine innings.
Despite the two disappointments in Columbus, Ga., the Lions should be primed for another deep run in the playoffs this fall.
11 returners and three talented freshmen headed by a trio of seniors currently fill this year's varsity roster.
Within that group lies the majority of Hebron's batting order and defensive core from last season, but Lewis has tried to push them to a higher level this summer.
"We had a big emphasis on quickness…we really tried to push them to the next level, with transition times, just competing for everything and trying to find the true dogs and competitors in the group that are going to step up," Lewis said. "We had a good group of freshmen come in that's competing, so it's been a good summer."
Considering the depth at the plate and strong leather in the field, scoring runs and playing clean defense shouldn't be an issue for the Lions, who ranked 20th in Georgia last season (MaxPreps).
However, 2024-25 senior pitcher Gwendolyn Hill left the circle with a big hole to fill.
Hill signed with Furman University after she earned a Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six honor last year and struck out over 500 batters in her Hebron career. As the ace, she ate most of the staff's innings as a senior.
Sophomore Kate Kennedy is who Lewis believes will fill the gap that Hill left.
The goal will be to give Kennedy as much run support as possible while playing sound defense in the field, minimizing her pitch count.
"We're looking for [Kennedy] to step up in that role, and really show what she can do in the circle," Lewis said. "We have a great defense behind her…and we should be able to [score runs] for her, so that's our plan."
Lewis said that she should have two trusted arms that could go at any time, with the possible addition of two from the junior-varsity team, but Kennedy will lead the way.
As far the bats go, the Lions are looking to be "more violent" with their swings, while having more "team at-bats" – a station-to-station approach.
Seniors Brittyn Sissom, Lauren Kyranakis and Jaycee Thornhill will anchor the middle of the order.
Sissom and Kyranakis have already committed to play college softball, Sissom a Wofford College commit and Kyranakis a Georgia State University commit.
Thornhill had a strong .347 batting average across 31 games.
Other "big sticks" in the middle of the order will be sophomores Gabby Raysor and Juliahna Huber.
Huber batted an impressive .419 with seven home runs and 26 runs-batted-in, while Raysor batted .359 and drove in 20 runs.
They provided a lot of extra pop to the order as freshmen, backing up the heavy-hitting juniors.
"We want to score every inning and be aggressive on the bases as well," Lewis said of the offensive approach.
Starting the season without a blemish will be a tough task for the Lions, who ran out to a 10-0 start last season, and won 19 of their first 20 games.
Hebron will start out with a scrimmage against Peachtree Ridge on Thursday, July 31, and move to the first two games of the season this Saturday, Aug. 2 at Seckinger High School.
The Lions will face the Jaguars (29-7 last season) and Winder Barrow in a double-header to start.
From there, Hebron will battle with strong programs in Houston County, Saint Francis School, South Paulding, Loganville and Lambert high schools.
Of those five teams, each had at least 17 victories last season.
This gauntlet of a non-region schedule was by design, and with the power-ranking system implemented by GHSA last year, these will be key tests for the Lions.
"I am very big on playing tough competition and the biggest competition [that] we can play outside of our region…just pushing our girls to the highest level," Lewis said. "Even if we fail, there's growth involved, and I've always been a coach [who doesn't] take the easy road, but the hard road, and really push [players] out of their comfort zone."
This non-region slate will prepare Hebron for a tough region, which is highlighted by the Lions and reigning 8-AA region champion Prince Avenue (29-7 last season).
The Wolverines bested the Lions twice in last year's regular season, but revenge was earned in the state tournament.
Stephens County and Franklin County will also contend for a region title. Franklin ended last season with a 16-13 and a third-place region finish, while the Indians placed fourth with an overall record of 22-8.
"Prince Avenue is always tough…scrappy and gritty. They're going to play disciplined, which is the same basic principle that we instill in our team, so it's always a good battle," Lewis said. "Stephens is always good, so is Franklin. You really can't take a game off in our region, so we have to stay focused. I think our girls will be ready come that time."
