n the 2017-18 season, Cortni Emanuel and Kendall Burton started in all 61 games. This season, the Bulldogs will miss the two seniors’ presence on and off the field.
The key outfielders combined for 152 hits and three errors over the course of their senior season and brought many invaluable talents and personalities for Georgia.
Emanuel brought unrivaled production on offense, and associate head coach Tony Baldwin highlighted that the three-time All-American had upwards of 70 hits in each of her four years at Georgia.
Although Burton didn’t bring the type of offensive capabilities as Emanuel, Baldwin thought she was an invaluable part of the team due to her personality.
“Kendall [Burton] was just such a fireball personality that brought such a spark to our girls,” Baldwin said. “Taking them out of the lineup is certainly going to hurt.”
The lone survivor from the outfield trio is junior Ciara Bryan, and she has played a big part in welcoming in new additions such as freshman CJ Landrum.
Landrum attributed Bryan’s positivity as helping her get comfortable in her first season with the Bulldogs.
Bryan is helping to create mutual respect and accountability between her and younger players, something she was taught by Emanuel and Burton.
Baldwin felt the same way about Bryan applying past advice to this seasons outfield group, and he’s glad to have the veteran out there.
“It’s been fun to watch her grow into her own skin over the last two years, and really allow her personality to shine,” Baldwin said.
As for Landrum, she knows how hard it will be to replace an important player in left field like Emanuel, but explained that if she played hard she could be just as good.
Landrum is a three-sport athlete from Fort Worth, Texas, known for her speed, which should be a key for her offensively and defensively when trying to replace Emanuel.
“I plan on trying to make every play,” Landrum said. “Anything I can get to, I’m going to make sure it doesn’t hit the ground.”
Although the Bulldogs will surely miss the two senior outfielders, it didn’t seem to affect the confidence they have for the current team.
“We have a good locker room and we’re ready to get going,” Baldwin said. “There’ll be things that this team does well and there will be things that this team got to fight through as the season progresses.”
Andrew Walsh 