The East Cobb Bullets organization has had great success of late, with six teams playing at PGF Nationals last summer and three of those finishing in the Top 10.

In April we profiled the Pointer 14U team and today look at the EC Bullets 16U team coached by John Legere which four committed players and likely many more who’ll be committed by the end of the year…


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FullCountSoftball. When did the team/program start and how/why did it come to be?
John Legere: The EC Bullets program was started 18 years ago by Greg Schnute. I became a part of the organization in the fall of 2013 when I brought my team over from the Georgia Force Organization.

FCS.com: Where are you based and where do your athletes come from?
JL: We are based out of Kennesaw, Ga. (Cobb County) but I have players from all over Georgia. I do not have any players from out of state this year.

FCS.com: What was the purpose of creating the team, is it to showcase players, win titles, develop skills or something else?
JL: The purpose of this team is to play the best competition locally and around the country and to showcase these players to potential college programs. Also, we are hoping to contend for a PGF championship this summer!

FCS.com: What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
JL: We are preparing for the Premier National Championship by playing against the best 18U teams in our area. We have had a lot of success against older teams and feel like when we get to California there will be nothing we haven’t seen.

FCS.com: What makes the organization unique?
JL: The EC Bullets is the oldest organization in the state of Georgia and still has the same leadership as it did on day 1. Greg Schnute is a great connection between our teams and the college coaches. There is no other organization in our area that has his type of leadership.

FCS.com: What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
JL: I played men’s slowpitch and managed a men’s team for many years. As with most dads, my daughter began to play at the age of eight so I gave up my hobby to support hers. I fell in love with the game of fastpitch. I am one of the founding members of the Georgia Force Fastpitch organization back in 2007 and began to be a head coach in 2008 at the 12U level and have been one ever since.

FCS.com: How big is the organization overall?
JL: I believe we have 17 teams this summer… I have trouble keeping up!

FCS.com: Can you point to a key moment or defining experience in the team’s history?
JL: After qualifying for three straight years to ASA Nationals, a key moment for this team was winning the first 16U qualifier to Premier (PGF) last May. That moment helped my kids believe they belonged playing against the best. Once in California, we played well and these young ladies knew they could hang with anyone in the country.


FCS.com: What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
JL: With an invite to return to Premier Nationals, our main focus over the summer is to gel together as a group and maximize exposure for the players. We want to be prepared to make a run for a Premier championship in August.

FCS.com: What do you think are the strengths of the team?
JL: We have a great balance between of speed and power. We can manufacture runs if needed and hits the gaps as well. In my opinion, my pitching staff in one of the best in the country. I have some top-level pitchers that perform at a high level and are still under the radar.

FCS.com: What would you say is the one thing that separates you from other club programs?
JL: I feel like we have created an environment of family and fun, while still having expectations of excellence against the top teams in the country. We have a great balance!


FCS.com: What do you want people to know about the Bullets – Legere team?
JL: I believe we are a team full of really talented players flying under the radar. We have so much uncommitted talent that college coaches need to pay attention to these hidden gems.

FCS.com: Where will your team be this summer?
JL: Here a list of the events we’ll be in this year:

• June 11-14 – Scenic City Showcase – Chattanooga, TN
• June 18-21 – Champions Showcase – Woodstock, GA
• July 1-5 – Louisville Slugger IDT – Boulder/Longmont, CO
• July 8-12 – Demarini Showcase – Chicago, IL
• July 16-19 – Atlanta Legacy Showcase – Marietta, GA
• August 1-8 – 16U Premier Nationals – Huntington Beach, CA

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Here are individual player profiles on each member of the EC Bullets – Legere with comments from Coach Legere:

— SS/3B Kirsten McMonigle (2016, Georgia State)
“Kirsten, aka “KMac” has been my leadoff hitter for three years and is a dynamic infielder. She has a very small stature, but plays very tough and with tremendous heart. Kirsten plays high school ball at Greenbrier (Augusta, Ga.) and led her team to a state championship last fall.”

— 2B/OF Bailey Sims (2016, Belmont)
“Bailey came to my team last year after a successful season with Atlanta Vipers-Kates. She is a lefty power hitter and has been a great bat in the lineup. Bailey is a natural second baseman and has tremendous range on anything in the air. She is a great motivator and a very positive personality in the dugout.”

— 3B/OF Brianna Vollrath (2016, uncommitted)
“Bri is a power hitter who has been with me for four years. She is an outstanding corner infielder, but is also very strong in the outfield. Bri has one of the strongest arms on the team and can throw a runner out from anywhere on the field.”

— OF/1B Kaylyn Anthony (2016, uncommitted)
“Kaylyn came to my team last fall and has been a great addition to my roster. She has filled a major need in centerfield and currently leads the team in batting average, hits, and RBI. Kaylyn hits for power and is extremely disciplined at the plate. Her arm strength is off the charts from the outfield.”

— OF Mallory Alford (2018, uncommitted)
“Mal is in her second season with my team and is the youngest player on the roster. She is a lefty slapper with very deceiving speed. Mal is a great contact hitter and reads defenses well when using the short game. One of her strongest skills is running bases and swiping the extra 60 feet any time she has a chance.”

— P Adriana Durden (2016, Young Harris)
“Adriana, aka “A-train,” came to us last fall and was a tremendous addition to our pitching staff. She is from South Georgia and single-handedly led her high school team (Tift County) to a second round playoff run last fall. Adriana has a mix of great movement and speed that keeps hitters off balance. In her first 39 innings this Spring, A-train had 41 K’s as apposed to only four walks.”

— C Lesley Davis (2017, uncommitted)
“Lesley is in her fourth year with us and has become a great defensive catcher. Her arm strength is great behind the plate and she can pick off runners anywhere on the diamond. Lesley hits for power and is always a threat to hit one out of the park.”

— P/1B Alexa Veamoi (2017, uncommitted)
“Lexi joined the team back in February when we had a need for another great pitcher. She has great speed and an off speed curve ball that leaves hitters very frustrated. Lexi is also a solid hitter who can hit for power.”

— OF Brooke Etheridge (2017, uncommitted)
“Brooke is probably the fastest kid in the park on any given weekend. In the two years she has been on my team, she has been thrown out stealing only once. Brooke is a solid outfielder who never misses an opportunity to lay out for a catch. At the plate, Brooke is great at using the bunt game to her advantage to get on base.”

— P/SS/OF Emily Harris (2017, uncommitted)
“Emily is what I would call a true utility player. She is a very solid pitcher, but will play anywhere in the field we need her, and she will be successful. Emily is a kid with spunk and grit who will run through a fence for her team. She is always smiling no matter the circumstance and is a great positive influence in the dugout.”

— C Emilie Lawrence (2016, Georgia College)
“Emilie joined my team last summer just before Triple Crown and Premier Nationals. She was an instant fit on the roster and has become the vocal leader on the field. If you watch Emilie play, you will notice her encouragement and enthusiasm for her teammates, especially our pitchers. She is a great hitter as well and is currently second on the team in batting average.”

— UT Bree Comer (2017, uncommitted)
“Bree is in her second year with us and has been a huge contributor to our success. She is a lefty slapper, but can also hit for power when the situation is necessary. Bree seems to excel under pressure and has several walk-off base hits when we have been down to our last out. Defensively, Bree can play anywhere on the field, and even pitched last fall for her high school team.”

— P/1B Kelly Schmidt (2016, uncommitted)
“Kelly has been with us for several years and has become a top-level pitcher. She is over 6 feet tall and has tremendous upside in the circle. Kelly mixes speeds very well and has a changeup that leaves hitters frozen. Last year at Triple Crown, Kelly held a top Arizona Firecracker team to one earned run in seven innings. In my opinion, Kelly has flown under the radar and would be a huge pickup for any school in the 2016 class.”

— 1B/2B Rachel Legere (2016, uncommitted)
“Rachel is a talented infielder with a very high softball IQ. I have been coaching her since she was eight years old and have had the pleasure of watching her grow into a top-level softball player. Rachel is a line drive hitter who is patient at the plate. She is always a positive influence and loves to be around her teammates.”