[08/11/02]In only their second season of fast-pitch softball Porters Chapel Academy will introduce a new coach, Kevin Griffin, to a young, inexperienced squad as play begins Monday at the Bazinsky softball fields against River Oaks at 4 p.m.

“The fact that we are only in the second year of our program is going to be a challenge in itself,” Griffin said. “We’ve got three seniors and only two other players that have ever played fast-pitch before.

“So right now it’s just a building process, and we’re hoping to be able to compete for a district title.”

But a challenge is what Griffin was looking for when he left his position as an assistant men’s basketball coach and sports information director at Belhaven College to become PCA’s softball and boys basketball coach.

“I had just got to the point in the college game where players thought they knew everything, and I wanted to move into high school where I could actually start teaching,” Griffin said. “In high school you have to be fundamentally sound, where in college your athleticism is going to make up for some of your lack of fundamentals.”

The team will be led by senior Courtney Angel’s bat, which carried a .400 batting average last year. Catcher Amy Rutledge “is the coach on the field” and Lindsey McCool will highlight a strong infield.

“I really believe we have a couple players on this team who are capable of playing at the next level,” he said. “I believe my job is to prepare them for that.

“And as a team, I just think that every day we have to get better and if we play up to our potential we can finish first or second in our district.”

Griffin is not unaccustomed to turning a young softball team’s fortunes around. In only his second season coaching for a Georgia softball team, Griffin took them to the state title after a three-win season the year before.

And Griffin will expect assistance from the older players.

“Our team unity and morale is strong,” Griffin said. “I’ve noticed in the three weeks that I’ve been here that these girls are so cohesive as a unit, and you don’t ever hear them arguing with one another. They’re always trying to lift each other up.”