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The Goshen High School softball program has a new head coach for the first time in a number of years after the retirement of longtime coach Amy Warrick. 

With Warwick’s retirement, in steps Anthony Carter. Carter, also the boys’ head basketball coach, is most known for his career in basketball as he was an All-State player at Greenville High School before becoming a basketball star at Faulkner University and playing professionally overseas. 

Carter has served as head football coach at Barbour County and head basketball coach at Carroll, New Brockton and Abbeville. He is no stranger to softball, however. Carter served as head softball coach at Abbeville, New Brockton and McKenzie during his coaching career, as well. 

“I’m just now transitioning in from basketball but (assistant coach) Robert Kinsaul has been working with the girls,” Carter said. “We had 25 girls to show up for tryouts and we’ve had all of our girls showing up consistently. We’re young but we’re really excited.” 

Despite a young team, Goshen still returns veterans like Hailey Owens.

“Owens has been playing since her seventh or eighth grade year and we think she and the other seniors can be leaders for us,” Carter said. “We have a lot of ninth graders that will play, too. Age doesn’t matter, though. We need players to step up and lead no matter their age.”

Despite the youth, Carter has been pleased with the talent Goshen will field this season.

“We have a lot of young players that are just coming from city league softball,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot about gaining confidence with these younger players and understanding the game. They all play but sometimes you don’t truly understand the game, you’re just using your athletic ability and don’t have a true understanding of situations and things like that. We’ll be doing a lot of situational work.” 

With such a young team, Carter isn’t focusing on wins or losses but rather building a foundation for the future of the Goshen Lady Eagles program.

“We want to be competitive,” he flatly said. “That’s the biggest thing. We’re very young, seventh and eighth graders will have to play and some girls that have never pitched before will be pitching. We want to be able to build a good foundation for the future, though. That’s the goal.” 

Goshen opens the season at home against Class 5A Carroll on Feb. 18 before hosting Georgiana on Feb. 20 and rematching Carroll on the road on Feb. 25. Goshen wraps up the opening month on the road at Class 1A powerhouse Brantley on Feb. 27. 

On March 3, Goshen hosts Highland Home and then travels to Luverne on March 4 before facing Pike Lib on the road on March 6. The Lady Eagles will host New Brockton on March 11 and travel to Zion Chapel on March 13. On March 25, Goshen hosts Luverne and then wraps up March at home against Pike Lib on March 27. 

April begins on the road at Elba on April 3 before hosting Zion Chapel on April 10. The Lady Eagles head to New Brockton on April 17 and host Brantley on April 21 before finishing up the regular season at Highland Home on April 22.