Greenbrier softball players sign up

A standing-room-only crowd gathered after school Thursday at Greenbrier High School. The 50 or more fans had convened to congratulate five Greenbrier softball players who were signing with four colleges.

"It's more special to sign with my teammates because we're a family," senior Courtney McCladdie said. "Without my teammates and without coach (Garrett) Black, I don't think I would have made it this far."

Those sentiments were expressed by all five Lady Wolfpack athletes Thursday afternoon. Along with McCladdie (Columbus State), seniors Jessica Borum (Tallahassee Community College), Kayla Adams (Aiken Tech), Brittany Leverett (Columbus State) and Amanda Glover (Tennessee Tech) made up the largest signing class in Greenbrier softball history.

"I've got to start coaching next year," Black said. "These girls made my job easy. I had the best seat in the house for four years."

This year's graduating class finished their four-year career last fall with another Region 2-AAAA championship and a trip to the AAAA State Tournament Elite Eight.

Since their freshman year, the Lady Wolfpack has posted a 135-22 overall record, including a 2004 AAAA State Championship. Black said since the school opened 10 years ago, the Greenbrier softball program has seen 22 Lady Wolfpack signings.

"We get a lot of calls (from college coaches) because of the success we've had," Black said. "It puts a little more pressure on the next group because they have to maintain that winning tradition. It gets tougher every year."