With a successful summer behind them and opening day just around the corner, Gatewood’s softball team believes it has laid the foundation for a competitive 2026 season.
The Gators open the year Aug. 4 in Dublin, facing Trinity Christian after months of building chemistry, competing against quality preseason opponents, and establishing an identity they hope will carry them throughout the schedule.
Gatewood enters the season with just one senior on the roster, but head coach Dena Stancil said the team has exceeded expectations throughout the offseason.
“We’ve had a great summer,” Stancil said. “I had high hopes, but I really didn’t know what the chemistry was going to be this year with adding a few new kids. We’ve come off a great summer with some good showings at scrimmages in Dublin and exhibition games at Windsor Academy against some really good schools. These kids have really learned their roles on the team.”
That understanding of individual responsibilities was the foundation of Gatewood’s successful preseason approach.
“Our goal is for them to find that role and then perfect it,” Stancil said. “Everybody worked together to get those wins.”
While Avery Hill is the lone senior, Stancil believes her leadership extends well beyond her experience. Rather than leading with words, Hill has earned the respect of her teammates through her willingness to do whatever the team needs.
“She’s not a very vocal leader, but that doesn’t take away from her leadership,” Stancil said. “She’s willing to do whatever is best for the team. She’s a phenomenal outfielder, but sometimes we’ve got to move her to first base or put her in the circle, and she’s always willing to jump in and do it. I think the team sees that and views her as a leader.”
Stancil also pointed to sophomore Lily Arthur as an emerging leader who has quickly embraced a larger role.
“Lily was almost born to be a leader,” Stancil said. “She’s more vocal, and she sets a standard that everybody knows to live up to. She sets the bar high, and everybody just kind of falls in line.”
On the field, Stancil expects the Gators’ greatest strength to come from playing as a complete team rather than relying on individual stars.
“Our strength is going to be just playing our game,” she said. “We may not have the best of the best anywhere, but our best, when it all works together, is pretty incredible.”
Gracie Lowry is among those players who made significant strides recently.
“Gracie has really impressed me this summer,” Stancil said. “She’s the pitcher we’re going to rely on … she’s really figured out how to benefit the team. She understands her role and understands how to work batters now. She’s really grown and matured as a pitcher.”
Stancil has also seen growth throughout the lineup, particularly from players who have embraced situational hitting instead of chasing individual statistics.
“I’ve got some that aren’t power hitters, but they understand if we’ve got base runners on, their job is to get a bunt down or at least put the bat on the ball,” she said. “They’re starting to understand that one person isn’t going to win a ballgame. It’s going to take all of them.”
That team-first mentality has fueled Stancil’s confidence heading into opening day.
“If a team is playing as a team, they’re unstoppable,” she said. “I think that’s going to be us.”
Still, as the season begins, Stancil said her emphasis isn’t going to be only on wins or losses.
“Years ago, if we went down 3-0 in the first inning, you might as well go home because they thought they were beat. That’s not this team. This team plays all seven innings. I’d call them scrappy. They find a way,” she said.
“We scrape runs across the plate when we’ve got to, our hits fall when they’ve got to, and they’re just not going to quit. That’s our goal. Play seven innings at a time, and I think great things are going to happen.”