On Tuesday the Winder-Barrow Lady Doggs softball team gathered at Spratlin Field for the next to last voluntary summer practice, with Wednesday being the last.

Under the Georgia heat the girls put their all into the workouts, which double as tryouts.

“We’re trying to evaluate what we have,” said first-year Head Coach Monty McClure. “We’ll probably make a few cuts.”

The cuts will be made on Monday, the first official day of practice.

Despite the summer practices being voluntary, McClure said that he has had a great turnout, with as many as 32 players reporting and an average of 26.

It has helped Coach McClure to get the team together early so that he is more prepared for his inaugural season.

“This is my first year,” McClure said. “So I want to establish the proper way to do things.”

He has a young, talented team to work with, which should be solid on the mound and in the field.

Last year’s ace, Kylie Smith, is returning. She will be assisted by sophomore Karrie Kiley.

“Hopefully we’ll be good pitching,” the coach said. “And we’ve been spending a lot of time on defense.”

The Lady Doggs finished their Tuesday workout on the run. They were clocked running from home to first, from first to second, around the bases and around the field.

They may be a middle-of-the-pack team when it comes to speed, according to Coach McClure, but with every burst to reach the final base and every cheer from the players, they displayed their determination for the 2010 season.