A new era is underway for the Putnam County softball program, and first-year head coach Gabriel Dyar has spent the early weeks of the summer laying a strong foundation.
After taking over the program just a few months ago, Dyar has been busy organizing tryouts, building his roster and getting his players on the field whenever Georgia’s summer weather allows.
So far, he likes what he has seen.
“This month of June has been really good to us,” Dyar said. “We’ve really been trying to harp on the fundamentals.”
The War Eagles enter the season with a roster that features a mix of promising freshmen and experienced seniors, with several veteran players already emerging as leaders during offseason workouts. Senior standouts Michelle Hernandez, Jaycee Maddox, Kennedy Davis, Ashlyn Fuller, and Bristol Harris have each stepped into leadership roles as they prepare for their final season in a Putnam County uniform.
“They’ve all kind of started to step up because they know that this is their last ride,” Dyar said.
Despite frequent rain interruptions, Putnam County has already spent valuable time on the practice field.
“I would say some strengths are they’re definitely coachable,” Dyar said. “We ran a little simulation scrimmage, and it was really good. We were making the routine plays. I was very pleased with that.”
While Dyar has been encouraged by the team’s defensive fundamentals, he believes the difference between being a good team and a playoff team will come down to mastering the small details.
“There are some little things we need to work on, like baserunning and some small stuff like that,” he said. “It’s the little things that are going to make this team go to the next step. It’s going to be the little things that set good teams apart, especially in this region.”
In the pitching circle, Dyar feels confident about the War Eagles’ options. He said Harris will provide experience and leadership, while freshman Sophia Burnett has already impressed the coaching staff with her potential.
Regardless of who is in the circle, Dyar emphasized that success starts with one simple principle.
“The biggest thing is throwing strikes,” he said. “We’ve got to throw strikes to be successful.”
Offensively, Dyar expects Putnam County to play an aggressive brand of softball that takes advantage of its speed. He pointed to Hernandez, Jayda Dumas, and Davis as players capable of making an impact at the plate.
“Michelle Hernandez has a good pop in the bat,” Dyar said. “Jayda Dumas has a good pop in the bat, Kennedy Davis – all of those players are going to be a big key for us to help us be successful.”
The War Eagles will also place emphasis on manufacturing runs. Dyar said he believes bunting remains an important part of the game and wants his team to embrace it.
“We’ve got to get bunts down,” he said. “Bunting is a lost art in softball, so we’ve got to be able to get that down.”
Putnam County has not yet played any summer scrimmages, but Dyar has a July matchup scheduled against Locust Grove as the team continues preparing for the fall season.
As for expectations, Dyar said he believes the War Eagles have what it takes to compete in Region 2-AA and challenge for a postseason berth. Perhaps most encouraging for the first-year coach, though, is how quickly his players have embraced the program’s culture and vision.
“The girls are already starting to buy in,” Dyar said. “Which is really impressive considering that I took over this program a couple months ago and we’re just now getting started.”
Dyar knows challenges remain ahead, but he believes bonds formed now will help the War Eagles navigate adversity when the season arrives.
“We’re one big family,” Dyar said. “We’re going to hit rough spots, and that’s just part of playing the game of softball. But it’s how you handle the adversity through that to be a successful ball club.”