MOULTRIE – RaJayla McBride spent most of her outstanding Colquitt County fast-pitch softball career as a left-handed slap hitter, using her speed to put pressure on opposing defenses.
But McBride took a rare opportunity to hit from the right side – her natural side – in a Georgia Dugout Club All-State game on Nov. 9 at Truist Park in Atlanta and made a memory of a lifetime.
She hit a home run over the temporary fence at the Atlanta Braves home park, helping lead her team to a seventh-inning comeback from a five-run deficit and a walk-off victory.
In two games in the All-State event, the first-team All-Region 1-6A outfielder was 1-for-2 with the homer, a walk and a stolen base and made several fine plays in the field.
“It was just a really cool experience for me to sit back and watch one of our players do what she does and do it with the best players in the state,” said Colquitt County coach Taylor Barber, who was one of the coaches on the team that represented regions 1 and 5.
“She represented our program, our school and our community really well.”
As senior this season, she batted .419 and was successful in 43-of-45 stolen base attempts.
She has committed to play collegiately at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Miss.
“Super proud of RaJayla and the kid she is,” Barber said. “She’s a great player, but she’s an even better kid than she is a softball player.
“The award and the opportunity to play her last high school game at Truist Park as part of the All-State team couldn’t happen to a better kid and she put on a show, which was awesome. It left an impression on a bunch of folks that were there.”
Barber was selected as the Region 1-6A Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Packers to the region championship in his first season heading up the fast-pitch program at his high school alma mater.
He had been the head coach at Tift County the previous five seasons.
Also representing Colquitt County at the All-State event was former head coach Chance Pitts, who is
one of the Georgia Dugout Club’s softball vice presidents.
He resigned as the Lady Packers fast-pitch head coach following the 2023 season after posting a 156-87 record and winning three region titles over eight years.
He has the most wins in Colquitt County fast-pitch softball history, going 156-87.
Pitts will be the head coach of the Colquitt County slow-pitch team that will begin play next spring.
“The GADC and the Braves do an awesome job of making (the All-State event) an incredible experience for everyone involved,” Barber said.