Softball makeups piling up

Softball coaches in northwest Georgia are facing the possibility of a second consecutive week of rainouts, which could jeopardize the start of region tournaments. Unless the weather improves quickly and fields can dry, a game-a-day approach will come into play.

"I've never had to deal with anything like this," Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe coach Tony Ellis said. "If we get a total washout this week, we would have to play seven games in five days. We are supposed to be finished with the regular season by Oct. 3. That's when the region tournament is supposed to start."

Ellis said region tournaments could be pushed back a couple of days, but any further delays would mean getting the GHSA involved in trying to delay the state tournament.

His Lady Warriors already had four games on the schedule this week, including two that were rained out last week. Like other area coaches, Ellis is trying to maximize the days between now and tourney time.

"We've got a makeup game with LaFayette scheduled for Saturday at noon, and we're already trying to find somebody else to play that afternoon," Ellis said. "Looks like we'll just have to hope it dries out."

Even the indoor sport of volleyball is feeling the effects because of the road closures. Catoosa County schools were closed Monday and LFO's match at Southeast Whitfield was rescheduled for next Monday at 5:30 p.m.. LFO is scheduled to host Heritage tonight at 6:30, but coach Diane Norwood and Lady Generals coach Becky Forkner are expecting the match to be postponed.

Stoker commemorated

Central's volleyball players will memorialize assistant coach Jessica Stoker, who died in a one-car crash Wednesday morning. The name "Jess" will be emblazoned on the left sleeves of their jerseys.

Coach Victor Rodriguez, assistant coach Steve Lewis and athletic director Brent Cooper collaborated on the idea.

"We were in the process of getting new jerseys and made that addition," Rodriguez said.

The team withdrew from Hamilton Heights' Lady Hawks Invitational on Saturday to attend the funeral. Stoker's sister, Jade, a sophomore for the Lady Pounders, told her coach that she would be at school and play in Monday's match against Hixson, which turned out to be a 3-1 loss, because it was what Jessica would want her to do.

"A few times you could tell we had a little something we had to work through, especially her sister," Rodriguez said. "She was trying to do her best. They were pretty close games. The effort was excellent."

5-AAA heats up

The TSSAA's reclassification that started this season has turned District 5 into one of the most rugged volleyball conferences in the state. This week is a pivotal one, particularly Wednesday when the current top teams, Soddy-Daisy (23-6, 7-1) and Ooltewah (24-8, 7-1) meet at Ooltewah at 6:15 p.m.

The Lady Trojans, who beat Ooltewah 3-0 on Sept. 17, host McMinn County today. The Lady Owls must pass a stern road test at Walker Valley, which they needed five games to beat on Sept. 2.

"Ultimately we'd like to be in the driver's seat and be the first seed in the district tournament," Ooltewah coach Elaine Peigen said, noting all district matches are must wins at this point. "We're going to have to play our best ball."

The Lady Owls did that Saturday, going undefeated through the Tennessee Tandem tournament and winning the Gold Division.

Soddy-Daisy must make the trip to Walker Valley on Oct. 8. It also has a match remaining with Cleveland, a program with a near-.500 record that has been held down by injuries and illness.

"Our district has been a four-team knockdown, drag-out race," Soddy-Daisy coach Lorri Johnson said. "No. 4 could beat No. 1 any day, and one through four could change any given night. Ooltewah has a history of being on top. I still feel like we're kind of the dark horse."