By Alexa Key
Gardner-Webb Softball team celebrated their seniors on Sat, April 23. Seniors Reah Barger, Baylee Short and Molly Montgomery were announced after the second game of Saturday’s double header.
Alongside this celebratory day the Bulldog’s also defeated #1 University of South Carolina Upstate. The team took the series victory, winning 2 out of 3 games. Friday night’s game resulted in a mercy rule, as the Bulldog’s won in the fifth inning 12-4. Saturday’s first game was also a win, 5-4.
Reah Barger #12, a fourth-year senior, threw out the first pitch before Saturday’s game. Reah Barger is currently rehabbing from an ACL surgery that took place in March this year. It was just the sixth game of her senior season that she became injured. Barger had just hit a walk off double to give the Bulldogs an extra innings victory in the bottom of the eighth inning. Reah Barger ended her career with a .333 batting average and a 4.96 ERA pitching. Barger graduated in the fall of 2021 with her Bachelors in Exercise Science and is finishing her Masters in Strength and Conditioning this spring. Barger will be attending Western Carolina University next fall to pursue a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
Baylee Short #25, a 19- year-old senior was also celebrated. Short is graduating with her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science after only attending Gardner-Webb for just 2 short years. After graduation she is planning on attending Physician Assistant school. During these two years Short played in the outfield for the Bulldogs. In the 2022 season Short also pitched a total of 10 innings. “It was scary (pitching), but I was willing to do anything to help my team because that’s how much they mean to me,” Short said.
Molly Montgomery #3, a Junior, was celebrated on senior day. Montgomery will be graduating in the fall of 2022 with her Bachelors in Exercise Science, so will not be participating in the 2023 softball season. Montgomery played as a catcher and infielder during her time at Gardner-Webb. Montgomery posted a .229 batting average and caught 3 people stealing in just this season alone. Montgomery is planning on going to Physician Assistant school after graduation.
As senior day came to an end, emotions were high for the Bulldog’s. “It was very emotional because my teammates are my best friends,” Baylee Short said. “I was pretty emotional knowing it was one of my last games I’d play at home with them.”
“I’m really going to miss playing with all of the seniors,” Riley Mccurry, a sophomore utility player said. “They are all very special in different ways and I have made so many memories with them.”
The Gardner-Webb Softball team will be playing next Saturday, April 30, against Longwood. Click here for more photos from senior day.