Athens and the University of Georgia mean a lot to Georgia State softball coach Roger Kincaid and Panthers pitcher Alana Thomas.
Kincaid walked on to Georgia’s football team in 1979 and was a scout-team player for the national championship squad in 1980. He has the ring to prove it.
Thomas grew up in Oconee County, closer to the Bulldogs’ softball stadium than to Oconee County High School, where she graduated. She and her family have attended more Bulldogs football, basketball and baseball games than she can remember.
So, while playing in an NCAA regional is special anywhere, playing the Bulldogs at 5 p.m. Friday at Jack Turner Stadium has an “extra oomph” about it, Kincaid said. Both coach and pitcher will have dozens of friends and family in attendance.
“It’s kind of ironic that the first NCAA regional game that I’ve ever coached in will be back in Athens,” said Kincaid, a GSU assistant who became the team’s interim head coach earlier this season. “It’s special for that reason. It would be special anywhere, but Athens holds a special place for me.”
The Panthers (36-23) don’t scare anyone with their offense. Their .250 batting average and 40 home runs don’t compare to the Bulldogs’ .321 average and 84 homers. Georgia State gets by with its pitching, sporting a 1.83 ERA compared to Georgia’s 2.06. Thomas, with a 9-9 win-loss record and 2.02 ERA, will get the ball for the Panthers on Friday.
“I’m really excited about it,” she said.
Thomas grew up dreaming of playing for the Bulldogs (47-12). Georgia coaches watched her pitch, but she committed early to Georgia State, following an older sister, Liz, to the Panthers.
It’s amazing Alana can pitch at all.
Thomas was born with a hip fusion. She experienced back pain growing up, but it was never too severe. She hit a growth spurt as a ninth-grader, sprouting four inches. The pain grew worse, but no one thought much about it. Eventually, Georgia State’s doctors diagnosed her with scoliosis, a curving of the spine. It is a fairly common condition; however, Thomas’ is uncommon.
Her curve is 44 degrees, giving her spine a letter-s shape. On a scale of 1 to 10 she said the pain is usually a 7 or 8. She takes prescription medicine to help deal with it. She can’t do full workouts or run with her teammates because of the discomfort.
“One of my doctors told me that softball was the only sport I could ever play with my scoliosis,” she said. “My body’s tweaked its way to do what it’s most comfortable with. It doesn’t hurt to pitch.”
She can have surgery to help correct the issues, but she’s putting it off until after softball.
To beat the Bulldogs, she’s going to need another performance like hers in beating Hofstra and clinching the CAA championship, which secured the spot in the NCAA regional. The Panthers will need to play good defense, take advantage of scoring opportunities and settle down quickly. Georgia likes to jump on opponents right off, scoring 82 runs in the first inning this season, more than in any other.
“We have a saying that big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games,” Kincaid said. “She’s one of those big-time players. The more crucial the situation the more focused she gets.”
Athens regional
Where: Jack Turner Stadium
Friday schedule
2:30 p.m.: Florida State vs. Alabama-Birmingham, Game 1
5 p.m.: Georgia State vs. Georgia, Game 2
Saturday schedule
Noon: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Game 3
2:30 p.m.: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Game 4
5 p.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, Game 5
Sunday schedule
Noon: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, Game 6
2:30 p.m.: If necessary, Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6
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