LAKELAND — Lanier County’s softball team received their state championship rings Wednesday during a pregame ceremony before the boys’ baseball game against Tift County.

The Lady Bulldogs were presented with gold rings commemorating the program’s second state title in three years. Teammates, families and community members attended the ceremony.

The rings marked another milestone for a group that has helped set the standard for Lanier County Athletics. The rings served as a symbol of the work that went into the championship run and the legacy the team has built.

“Oh, I love them. They’re big. They’re gold. I love it,” senior Molly Newbern said. “Getting our rings just makes me realize it’s really over, but I’m just so glad we got to win it all together.”

Head coach Aniston Gano said the players deserved the recognition for their hard work.

“These girls deserve it. I’m super proud of them. There’s nothing, there’s no amount of money that could ever compare to the final out and compare to how hard they’ve worked,” she said. “So they deserve it. And this is just something that symbolizes it.”

She also praised the team’s multiple championships.

“It’s awesome. They’ve done it multiple times. I have had the privilege of doing it once, so I’m super proud of them and I hope their hands aren’t too heavy.”

The ceremony added another chapter to Lanier County’s championship story that the Lady Bulldogs will carry with them long after their playing days end.

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