Player Honors
* All Region Player: 1994, 1995, 1996 * South Carolina 3A All State Team - 1996 * South Carolina North/South High School All Star - 1996 * Team MVP - 1995 Coaching Honors * Region AAA -IV Champions: 2001, 2003, 2004 (Assistant Coach) * Fort Irwin Middle School Boys Volleyball -Small School District Champions 2021 * Fort Irwin Middle School Boys Cross Country District 3rd Place 2022 * High Desert Athletic League - 2022 Athletic Director of the Year * High Desert Athletic League - 2023 Athletic Director of the Year |
Varsity Head Coach- Kelly FurtickCoach Kelly Furtick returns to the softball field with a wealth of experience and a deep passion for athletics and education. A 1996 graduate of Cheraw High School in Cheraw, South Carolina, Coach Furtick was a standout multi-sport athlete, lettering in cheerleading, cross country, basketball, track, and softball. As a five-year player for the Lady Braves, she excelled as both a shortstop and pitcher.
She continued her athletic and academic journey at Newberry College (Newberry, SC), where she played shortstop for the Indians and was a member of the cheerleading squad. While still in college, she began her coaching career as the junior varsity softball coach at Lexington High School (Lexington, SC). After earning her Bachelor of Science in Health/Physical Education with Teacher Certification in 2000, she joined the staff at White Knoll High School, where she taught physical education and coached JV cheerleading and was an assistant varsity softball coach from 2000 to 2006. In 2004, she earned her Master’s degree in Sports Administration from The United States Sports Academy of Alabama. In 2006, Coach Furtick married into the U.S. Army and embraced the challenges and opportunities of military life. Over the course of 10 moves across 7 states (SC, NY, GA, AL, CA, VA, PA) and a two year tour in South Korea, she continued to teach, coach, and raise a growing family. Most recently, while stationed at Fort Irwin, California (2020–2023), she served as the athletic director at Fort Irwin Middle School and coached multiple sports including cheerleading, boys volleyball, girls basketball, girls soccer, and cross country. Now stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, Coach Furtick teaches 8th grade science at East Columbus Magnet Academy. She is married to Colonel Robert “Ken” Furtick of Springfield, SC and they have three sons—Andrew, Jonathan, and Owen—who all attend Columbus High School. With nearly two decades of coaching and educational experience, Coach Furtick brings energy, dedication, and a team-first mentality to every endeavor. |
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JV Head Coach- Steven MeredithCoach Steve Meredith is back for his second season with the Lady Blue Devils. As a previous coach in Alabama, he was the head coach of Beauregard High School softball team for 9 seasons and as an assistant for 1. He also coached football and track. He took a break from coaching to go back to school to get a Masters degree from Columbus State University. This also gave him time to coach his daughter in little league and travel softball. Steve played football in high school and decided, while in college, that he wanted to spend more time on the field. So he majored in secondary math education and received a Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. He has 30+ years of experience as a math teacher and 12 years of coaching experience (softball, football, track). He is married to Lori. They are a blended family with 4 total children and 3 grandchildren.
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Assistant Coach- Sarah Marino
Coach Sarah Marino joined the coaching staff in 2023, after being a coach at American Little League for the past 4 years. She is a Columbus native graduating from Hardaway High School in 2008. She played softball for 10 years and was on the dance team at Hardaway where they won state in 2008 in Hip Hop and Jazz. She is also a graduate of Purdue University where she earned her bachelors degree in Healthcare Administration. She currently works for Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital. Sarah gains her love of sports from her dad, Coach Marino who was the head football coach at Columbus High for 16 years. She is an active member of St. Anne Catholic Church and loves spending time with her 10 nieces and nephews.
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