Big news in the softball travel ball world this week as Kerry Holcombe’s championship-winning East Cobb 14U Gold team, which was ranked #20 in the Extra Elite 80 Team Rankings last year, has switched organizations and effective immediately is now aligned with the Georgia Impact program.
The head coach told Extra Inning Softball that the “team will now be known as Georgia Impact 14U – Holcombe.”
Coach Holcombe had been with the Bullet organization since 2015 when he started the Georgia-based club program’s first 8U team. In 2021, he headed the 14U Gold team and, in his seven years with the EC Bullets, compiled a 427-101 record.
The team and its coaches are moving as a unit to the Impact, according to Holcombe, after having won multiple state, regional and national events (see the list below).
“After meeting with Georgia Impact’s board,” he explained, “I knew immediately that the Georgia Impact organization shared my vision for this squad.”
Along with all his players—each of whom is ranked in the top 150 of the Extra Elite 100 in their respective classes—Holcombe transitions to the new organization bringing with him a very experienced coaching staff.
His assistants include Rob Thornton and Andy Smith, who have been coaching with Holcombe for nearly a decade, and Greg Hammock, who joined Holcombe’s coaching staff three years ago bringing his experience of almost 300 victories, multiple state championships, and a USSSA World championship.
Also continuing on Holcombe’s staff will be Morgan Bruce, who came over from the Lady Dukes National team, and serves as the squad’s pitching coach. Prior to coaching, she was a pitcher at Georgia Tech and Ole Miss. The head coach explains:
“Morgan will not only act as the pitching coach but will also share her personal experience as an elite player and her perspective of what it takes to compete at that highest level.”
When asked why the team moved so quickly, Coach Holcombe replied:
“We came to a point where the vision of the Georgia Impact organization more aligns with the direction we want for our team. We are very appreciative of the opportunity provided by the Bullets and now to be representing the Georgia Impact organization with their full support moving forward.”
About a month ago, the Holcombe-coached Bullets 14U team won the 18U GOLD Cup 7 in Hampton, Georgia, going undefeated to take the title. In previous years, the team had won multiple USSSA and USFA national and regional titles (see the list below).
“We have won a lot at the younger age groups and expect to keep the tradition going as we continue on the national stage,” Holcombe continues. “Two years ago, 2020, was supposed to be our first year traveling to Colorado for the Triple Crown Sparkler in 12U, but that got derailed by Covid, so we went to USSSA Nationals in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.”
There, the team won the summer championship,–one of a half dozen to date it’s won at the national level.
This summer, the head coach concludes:
“We fill keep our original schedule as it was originally planned, which includes competing at Alliance, PGF and Triple Crown-produced events.”
The new team can be followed on Twitter at: @impactholcombe and also on Athletes Go Live at ID 003533.
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2021-2022 Georgia Impact – Holcombe 14U Coaching Staff
- Head Coach: Kerry Holcombe
- Pitching Coach: Morgan Bruce
- Asst Coach: Rob Thornton
- Asst Coach: Greg Hammock
- Asst Coach: Andy Smith
2021-2022 Georgia Impact – Holcombe 14U Player Roster
- #2 Addie Joiner
- #3 Madison Hammock
- #5 Paige Holcombe
- #6 Addison Smith
- #8 Abby Lovell
- #9 Cate Raines
- #10 Amelia Thornton
- #13 Hali Duke
- #18 Julia Morici
- #21 Presley Ivey
- #22 Katie Cunane
- #23 Linzie Davis
- #24 Payton Roberson
- #33 Harmony Jackson
2022 Summer Schedule
- June 6-9—PGF Show Me the Money, Newberry, Fl
- June 16-19—Champions Elite Summer Showcase, Atlanta, Ga
- June 27-July—Triple Crown Sparkler Jr, Colorado
- July 8-10—Atlanta Legacy Showcase, Atlanta, Ga
- July 26-31—Alliance Nationals, Chattanooga, TN
Top Historical Finishes
2016
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- 1st place 8u USSSA Georgia Fall State Championship
- 1st place 8u Fall World Series Champions
2017
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- 1st place 10u USFA State Championship
- 1st place 9u USFA World Series, FL
- 1st place 10u USSSA Georgia Fall State Championship
2018
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- 1st place 10u USA State Championship
- 1st place 10u USFA World Series, FL
2019
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- 1st Place USSSA Fall World Series, Culman, AL
- 1st place 11u USFA World Series, FL
2020 (Covid year)
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- 12U USSSA Summer Nationals Champions, Ft Walton Beach, FL
2021
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- Top 25 Alliance Nationals, FL
