Warner Robins honors fallen teammate in annual Jane Gore Classic Softball Game

Every year in September, Warner Robins hosts the Jane Gore Classic Softball Game. This game not only means a lot to the community of Warner Robins but the high school, coaches and players as well. I sat down with Coach White to speak about what Jane Gore meant to the high school and the community.

Who was Jane Gore? Jane Gore graduated from WRHS in 2004 and had a softball scholarship to play at Georgia Military College (GMC) after an outstanding high school career as a catcher. According to Coach White, a few days before Gore’s passing in a tragic car accident on Sept. 3, 2004, her college coach had informed her that she would be the starting catcher for the game against the University of Georgia. It was a great honor to be named a starter her freshman year.

This classic is more than a softball game — it’s a game about dedication to a team and a strong leader, both on and off the field. Coach White had a close bond with Gore, as she was the only junior on the varsity team at the start of the season. Jane’s encouragement to White during practice and first games allowed White to be on the Varsity Squad after the first game that season. Coach White was a freshman and Jane was a senior in the school year of 2003-2004.

At the beginning of every season, Coach White tells the story of Jane Gore and what she means to WRHS. According to White, Jane was determined to succeed and showed tenacity in achieving her goals. Jane was a positive leader and encouraged others to grow their abilities, not only on the field but also in the classroom. This story strengthens the team’s bond each season, promoting unity and solidarity.

As Coach White mentioned, Jane was not just the catcher for Warner Robins, she was also a leader to everyone. Therefore, this game symbolizes the unique bond the team shared with Gore. Every year the classic has many of the alumni at the game, including Coach White’s 2007 graduating class. The bond between Gore and White was extremely strong due to the fact that in softball the catcher is allowed to have a special pinch runner, and Coach White was given that honor as a freshman. Coach White stated that this relationship brought out the best in her and helped her improve as a player.

The game will take place on Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

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