One and done! That sums up what is left in the regular season career of Madeline Vail, Maddie Kaye Brymer, Averie Williams, and Skylar Hall, the four seniors on the Quitman High School softball team. One more game against Calvin that is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm this Tuesday, April 11th.
Fortunately, it won’t be the last game or even the final home game. Looking at no worse than a #2 ranking entering the Division V playoffs, Quitman will have one home playoff game for sure and probably two if they continue to advance.
If you have followed the Lady Wolverines throughout the season, you know that this is one of the stronger and more balanced squads in the state. Power, speed, defense, pitching…..Quitman has it all! Put them up against any team from any classification, it doesn’t matter. Better bring your A-Game if you are going to beat them.
Ask 20 game winner & Class 5A Airline, Division III’s #5 ranked team in Jena, former Division IV #1 ranked team Logansport and #7 Oak Grove among “non-select” schools, and #6 Opelousas Catholic among “select” schools.
Interested in only how Quitman has done against teams’ top teams in Division V? Last year’s Class B runner-up and current #5 Anacoco, #6 Bell City, and #9 Stanley have all felt Quitman’s wrath this year. Even five-time, defending state champion and current Division V top-ranked team, Holden has fallen to the Lady Wolverines.
As evidenced by the wide sampling of wins in all classifications and their 24-5 record, by far the most in their division, These girls can go!
What is kind of ironic and unusual about such a strong team is that for most of the year the “headline grabbers” have been underclassmen. Granted, when you have a 7th grader (Hallie Kate Pullig) and a 9th grader (Maggie Guyotte) leading the nation in their class in home runs according to MaxPreps.com, a 10th grader (Cali Deal) compiling a 16-1 pitching record with over 200 strikeouts, and a junior (Madison Chaplin) who has scored 50 runs this season, it tends to hog the limelight.
It isn’t that the Lady Wolverines don’t have a strong group of upperclassmen. Far from it! While they don’t get as much attention as they deserve, the four being honored at the senior night celebration will be one of the most iconic classes in school history.
Call them the GLUE GIRLS!
As 8th graders, they were there when Justin Dodson was named head coach five years ago. They were the ones a few years later who stepped into a leadership role when Quitman had no seniors. They were the ones who taught the current “young guns” on the team what it takes to be a winner.
They are the ones that keep everything together. They are the ones who strengthen the bond and “family” values among teammates. They are the foundation! The heart! And yes, the soul of Quitman High School Softball.
They are certainly special in coach Dodson’s eyes and heart.
“I have never had a group as long as I have had this one and I could not ask for a better bunch,” reflected Dodson. “They will forever be remembered and loved by myself and the QHS family.”
And they should be!
During their career, Quitman has compiled a 105-43 record (71% winning percentage) and has never been ranked below #8 in their class at the end of the regular season. Over the past three seasons, the Lady Wolverines have won the district in undefeated fashion and have advanced to the regionals twice, quarterfinals, and semi-finals in the last four years. This year they are a favorite to win it all.
Bio of QHS Seniors
Maddie Kaye Brymer (First Base)– Nicknamed the “Big Bopper” as a sophomore after hitting a team-tying best 7 home runs and driving in 59 RBIs, which is at present, the school record. Holds a career batting average of .462 in four years of play (Missed 2019-20 due to Covid). Needs just two more runs scored to join the elite 100/100 club for career RBIs and runs scored (138 / 98). One of only a few to be a member of the 50/40 club after the 2020-21 season of 59 RBI and 44 runs scored.
Madeline Vail (Second Base) – With three more steals this year, will have gone all five years compiling double-digit RBI, runs scored, and stolen bases. Holds a lifetime batting average of .369 and needs just two RBI to join Brymer in the career 100/100 club (98 / 153). Twice has had at least 20 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in a single season. Led team in 2021-22 with 50 runs scored and 28 stolen bases. Leads senior class with 155 career hits.
Averie Williams (Catcher) – Behind the plate for four straight seasons, has compiled an amazing .980 fielding average with only 17 errors in 866 chances. This year has made only three miscues in 249 chances. Especially impressive considering catching one of the harder throwing, lefty/righty, combination of hurlers in the state the past couple of years. Offensively, Williams has a career .277 batting average. Hit .369 and drove in 35 RBI last year, both career highs, and as a sophomore scored 31 runs and stole 27 bases.
Skylar Hall (Left Field) – A career .298 hitter, as a sophomore and junior was a member of the elite “triple-twenty” club with at least 20 RBI, runs scored, and stolen bases. Were it not for shortened Covid season would have easily compiled double digits in all three of the categories for four straight years heading into this season, missing by only three RBI.
Head coach Dodson hopes the Quitman faithful will come out in strength to give the seniors their due.
“Their career will not end in this game as we still have work to do,” said Dodson. “But I hope that our fans will come out to show their appreciation for what they have done and how they have represented Quitman High School. They deserve it.”
