Joann Ready is the new softball coach for Estill High School, but she is not new to the art of coaching. She has coached volleyball and basketball at the middle school for years and she has also helped coach varsity girls basketball.
Ready was an athlete herself. She played basketball for Claflin University and she started playing softball in high school. She also played softball on community and church teams.
Ready is getting a chance to use her many years of coaching experience and her love of softball to coach a young and inexperienced. Her goal for the team is to win six of their 12 games.
"At first, they are going to be nervous and make a lot of errors," said Ready. "As we go along and play, they won't make as many errors."
Nerves and errors were the story when the Lady Gators opened the season at Ridgeland on March 9. The Gators carried a 1-run lead into the fifth, but issued three walks and committed three errors and watched as the Jaguars scored 11 runs to secure a 19-9, 10-run rule victory.
Estill took an 8-3 lead in the top of third inning when the offense scored five runs without a hit. The Gators reached base on three walks, a fielder's choice and two errors.
Ready says coaching this team takes a lot of hard work and patience because they are young. She said about eight of her girls are prepared and 12 are inexperienced.
One of the things Ready has implemented is discipline. She instills in her girls respect and a family type of atmosphere.
Last year, the team finished 2-10. Ready would "love" to make it to the playoffs with her team.
"Our opponents are very tough, but by the middle of the season, I think we will be prepared to go up against anyone," said Ready.
Ready thinks Bamberg-Ehrhardt will be Estill's toughest competitor. Her team may lack experience but what they lack in skill, they make up in heart.
"They give 100 percent," said Ready. "They're young and inexperienced but they are willing to learn and give 100 percent in practice."
Although the team is young, everyone is back from last season. Key returners include Jashena Mitchell and Jaimee Isham. The Lady Gators also have two newcomers to watch in Shaquavia Shiggs and Samyetta Jennings. Ready is also expecting great things from Shagail Smith and Johnetta Perry.
The other members of the team are Akennia Jennings, Kentera Pickney, Kierra Johnson, Laquandra Martin, Ruth Mikell, Lydia Mikell, Dezirreah Roberts, Shontrell Williams, Michal Taylor, Shadaysia Small, Shazmine White, Rickesha Ruth, Jasmine Smoak.
"I expect to do well and turn this softball program into a winning tradition," said Ready, who is the program's second coach in its three-year history.
Ready is originally from Varnville. She started teaching in Hampton County in 1977. She teaches third grade in a self-contained classroom at Estill Elementary. She teaches all subjects and has taught at Hampton District Two for 20 years. She lives in Cypress Creek near Estill with her husband, Sylvester, and her two sons, Terrell and Jorelle.