MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The John Milledge softball program has come extremely close to sealing the deal the past two seasons.

The Lady Trojans were two series wins and one series win away from being crowned GISA AAA state champions in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Although current head coach Gordon Veal, who had been a part the program since 1999, was not involved in any official capacity last year he still kept a close eye as the team made it all the way to the state finals only to be overcome by Pinewood Christian.

“It feels good to be back,” Veal said from the home dugout at the start of Thursday’s practice session. “It’s not the first time I’ve come back, but with the group of seniors that I have I still feel like we’ve got some unfinished business.”

Even though he wasn’t on the field in 2016, Veal still has a high level of familiarity with his players, some he has coached since the sixth grade. He and incoming coach Andy Bonifay will co-lead the softball program along with the help of Traci Rollins as they all work together to help the Lady Trojans reach the mountaintop. Bonifay, who will head up the varsity baseball program later this school year, was expected to join his new school Friday after closing out the summer travel baseball season.

“He’s going to call pitches, and we’ll split time coaching both bases,” said Veal. “Hopefully we’ll split the decision-making process as to who goes where. I’ll coach the infield and he’ll do the outfield and pitching.”

The Lady Trojans will be led by five seniors at some of the most important positions on the diamond.

“Defensively I’ve got a senior at short in Natalie Martin and a senior at second in Gracie Mitcham,” the head coach said. “I feel like our middle infield is probably the best in the state.”

Logan Freeman and Harley Robinson will also provide leadership in the JMA outfield on the defensive side of things. Veal is expecting Freeman to be one of the team’s biggest threats offensively after having batted in the .400s two seasons ago. As for the all-important pitcher’s circle, time will be split among three players including Mitcham and junior Ansley Glover. They’ll throw to experienced senior catcher Avery Mitchem.

“We’re probably not going to have that one girl that’s going to get out there and throw every inning of every ballgame,” Veal said. “It’s going to be a platoon-type situation.”

The Lady Trojans have been putting in work to some degree all summer, but things have really begun kicking up since the Fourth of July holiday. They have traveled and will travel to a few more preseason tournaments before the real competition begins Aug. 7 at home against Thomas Jefferson.

Although Veal is confident in his defense, he admits that he would like to see his girls improve at the plate in the coming weeks as the season rapidly approaches. JMA lost two of its best bats to graduation in Megan Davis and Rose Clements who hit .380 and .315, respectively. Davis was also the team’s most successful pitcher with a 13-3 record and 1.66 earned run average. That senior leadership will need to step up big time in order to make up for those lost numbers.

“My expectations are the same every year,” the head coach said. “We’ve got a long way to go and a lot of work to do, but if we do what we’re supposed to and if everybody takes care of their individual jobs, plays together, plays clean defense, and we get a timely hit here and there there’s no reason for us not to be right back in it.”

The regular season opener at home against Thomas Jefferson is set to begin at 4 p.m. Aug. 7.