Experienced, Talented Softball Battery a Winning Combination

The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team is preparing to kick off the season at the Grizzly Softball Complex later this week armed with experienced and talented players within the pitching circle and behind home plate.

Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg relishes at the Grizzlies’ good fortunes in both critical areas.

GGCAthletics.com wraps up its preseason position preview softball series by highlighting the battery of pitchers and catchers before the scheduled season opener on Friday, February 11, against Thomas University (Georgia) as part of the Grizzly Open. Play will continue through Sunday, February 13.

Junior pitcher Alexa Good is coming off an All-American 2021 season in which she earned second NAIA and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America team accolades. She established a new single-season school record for strikeouts, spreading 225 across 171 innings – contributing to her 21-4 record.

On the receiving end of those strikes has been classmate Sydney Pelaez, GGC’s primary catcher since arriving in Lawrenceville in 2019. The Tampa, Florida, native has consistently contributed offensively and defensively for the team. She provided the go-ahead hit in the 2019 NAIA Opening Round as the Grizzlies was a semifinalist in the World Series.

Good helped GGC capture the 2021 Association of Independent Institutions title (now the Continental Athletic Conference) and a victory against Georgetown College (Kentucky) in the NAIA Opening Round. The Pembroke Pines, Florida, native started 26 games in her second season as the ace of the pitching staff.

“Alexa has learned that she can throw and have success against any team in the country,” the coach said. “She takes an excellent mindset every time she enters the (pitching) circle. That’s why she threw both games in the Mobile doubleheader (resulting in two complete-game victories). We threw different things at her last year and she was very successful at adapting to those situations.”

Sophomore Gracie Hogg returns for her third season in the pitching circle. She has had 12 victories across the 2021 and 2020 seasons. Freshmen Mollie Peacock, Kailyn Berry and Kayla Good are eager to compete for playing time and innings in a challenging spring schedule which features 26 home games, including two multi-team events and the first Continental Athletic Conference championship tournament.

“Gracie is seeking to have a breakout season. We also have freshmen who have shown that they can be competitive at the highest level against NAIA competition,” said Ihlenburg.

Pelaez has been a steadying force behind the plate, starting 110 games over the past three seasons. She also has batted over .315 each season and connected on seven career home runs.

Other catching options include junior Claire Garney, who batted .333 last spring, and sophomore Logan Oller, who appeared in 10 games and scored a pair of runs as a pinch runner in her first collegiate season. Freshman Angelica Gallegos also adds depth and versatility to the catching unit as well as having the skills to play other positions on the diamond.

“We have confidence with pairing our pitchers with any of the catchers on the team. Most importantly, our pitchers have confidence in throwing to them as well,” stated Ihlenburg in preparation for the spring season.