Rabun County softball

Submitted Photo. Jessica Evans has begun her third season as the Lady Cat softball head coach. Front Row: (From left) Addison Patton, Kynzlie McCall and Mattie Scott. Middle Row: Jalynn Gragg, Charley Weaver, Kenlee Hedge and Capi Welch. Back Row: Coach Makenna Talcott, Kyla Shook, Cecelia Fields, Aubrey Colbert and Head Coach Jessica Evans. NOT PICTURED: River Evans.

Submitted Photo. Jessica Evans has begun her third season as the Lady Cat softball head coach. Front Row: (From left) Addison Patton, Kynzlie McCall and Mattie Scott. Middle Row: Jalynn Gragg, Charley Weaver, Kenlee Hedge and Capi Welch. Back Row: Coach Makenna Talcott, Kyla Shook, Cecelia Fields, Aubrey Colbert and Head Coach Jessica Evans. NOT PICTURED: River Evans.

Lady Cat softball off to strong start in 2026 campaign

The Rabun County softball team began its new season on Aug. 3, the first day of the new school year at RCHS.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County softball team celebrates River Evans’ go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Wildcats’ 15-14 win against East Jackson on Aug. 3. Evans, a junior, went 3-for-4 on the night with a single, double and grand slam.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County softball team celebrates River Evans’ go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Wildcats’ 15-14 win against East Jackson on Aug. 3. Evans, a junior, went 3-for-4 on the night with a single, double and grand slam.

Lady Cats’ softball takes dramatic season-opening win over East Jackson

TIGER – The Rabun County softball team claimed victory in its season opener on Aug. 3 at home over Class AAAA opponent East Jackson in wild fashion by a score of 15-14.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Jaylynn Gragg receives a high five after completing an inning in the Lady Cats’ 20-3 win over Tallulah Falls on Aug. 16, 2025. Gragg will be one of four potential starting pitchers for RCHS this upcoming season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Jaylynn Gragg receives a high five after completing an inning in the Lady Cats’ 20-3 win over Tallulah Falls on Aug. 16, 2025. Gragg will be one of four potential starting pitchers for RCHS this upcoming season.

New team, Same game: Lady Cat softball eyes 2026 season, playoff return

The Rabun County softball team wants to build champions on and off the field, regardless of if those championships come this season, or down the road. That mission is summarized in one of the Lady Cats’ themes for the upcoming season, “New team, same game.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County and Habersham Central players gather to pray together after the teams completed their July 20 scrimmage at Rabun County High School. The Lady Cats are led by third-year head coach Jessica Evans.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County and Habersham Central players gather to pray together after the teams completed their July 20 scrimmage at Rabun County High School. The Lady Cats are led by third-year head coach Jessica Evans.

RCHS softball readies for season-opening game

The Rabun County softball team continued its march toward the regular season this past week with scrimmages at home versus Class AAA opponent Stephens County on July 16 and Class AAAAAA opponent Habersham Central on July 20.
Submitted Photo. Former Rabun County High School teacher and coach Janice Wayne (center) poses with the Rabun County softball team after throwing the first pitch at a game during the 2025 season. Wayne, the first-ever softball coach at RCHS who also assisted athletics in a plethora of ways, passed away on June 24 at the age of 72.

Submitted Photo. Former Rabun County High School teacher and coach Janice Wayne (center) poses with the Rabun County softball team after throwing the first pitch at a game during the 2025 season. Wayne, the first-ever softball coach at RCHS who also assisted athletics in a plethora of ways, passed away on June 24 at the age of 72.

Long-time Rabun coach, teacher Wayne passes

A fixture in Rabun County for decades and beloved by the community, Janice Wayne passed away on Wednesday, June 24, at the age of 72. Wayne – who many will remember as “Coach Wayne” – moved to Rabun County in 1976 and spent 38 years as a teacher and coach in the Rabun County School District.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County softball senior Presley Burrell signs her letter of intent to Georgia Southern University East Georgia while accompanied by her family on Rabun County’s campus on Feb. 5. Burrell earned All-Region second-team honors in her senior season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County softball senior Presley Burrell signs her letter of intent to Georgia Southern University East Georgia while accompanied by her family on Rabun County’s campus on Feb. 5. Burrell earned All-Region second-team honors in her senior season.

RCHS Wildcats Truelove and Burrell sign letters of intent on ‘National Signing Day’

TIGER – Rabun County seniors Ty Truelove and Presley Burrell were celebrated on the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 5, as they signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level.
Photo courtesy of Von Watts. Rabun County senior Chloe Shirley poses with her parents, Maria and Josh on Jan. 23 at her signing day ceremony on Rabun County’s campus. Shirley signed to continue her athletic and academic careers at Georgia Southern University East Georgia. Shirley played first and third base for the Lady Cats.

Photo courtesy of Von Watts. Rabun County senior Chloe Shirley poses with her parents, Maria and Josh on Jan. 23 at her signing day ceremony on Rabun County’s campus. Shirley signed to continue her athletic and academic careers at Georgia Southern University East Georgia. Shirley played first and third base for the Lady Cats.

RCHS Shirley inks letter of intent with Georgia Southern East Georgia

TIGER – Rabun County senior Chloe Shirley officially signed her letter of intent with Georgia Southern University East Georgia on Jan. 23 at a ceremony held on Rabun County’s campus Friday morning.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Softball sophomore River Evans and senior Presley Burrell talk on third base during Rabun County’s 20-3 Aug. 16 win over Tallulah Falls. Both players earned all-region honors this season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Softball sophomore River Evans and senior Presley Burrell talk on third base during Rabun County’s 20-3 Aug. 16 win over Tallulah Falls. Both players earned all-region honors this season.

Lady Cats softball players earn region honors

Five Rabun County softball players earned region honors for their individual performances this season, the team announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday. Those five players were River Evans, Presley Burrell, Madeline Suarez, Loren Mazarky and Chloe Shirley.

Rabun County's playoff run ends against Harlem

The Rabun County softball team’s playoff run came to an end after a doubleheader loss against the Harlem Bulldogs in Harlem on Tuesday night. Harlem scored runs in the sixth and seventh and won 6-5 in Game 1, before winning 10-6 in Game 2 to sweep the best-of-three series.

PREP ROUNDUP: Cats advance to 2nd round of state playoffs

SOFTBALL Rabun County: The Rabun County softball team swept South Atlanta (7-0, 7-0) in the first round of the GHSA Class AA state playoffs Monday. Details on the Wildcats’ opening-round victory will be in next week’s edition of The Clayton Tribune.