At the end of every sports season, the seniors on the team are recognized for their hard work over the years and their leadership on the team. The Varsity Softball team celebrated senior night on May 2 during a home game against Waynesboro High School.

Seven seniors were recognized last season, but this year there were only three seniors on the team: Hannah Brown, Cyniah Stuart and Ines Lopez-Flores. In addition to recognizing three players, the team also decided to celebrate one of their managers, senior Nina Andrews.

“It felt amazing to be honored even though I am not a player, I’ve already felt like part of the team because that’s just how the girls make me feel, but I really felt part of the team on senior night,” Andrews said.

After being the varsity softball manager for three years, Andrews has became very close to all the players and coaches overtime.

“After graduating I’m going to miss the bonds I have with the girls,” Andrews said. “We may have our ups and downs as a team, but we are still a family.”

Junior Lydia Grogg took charge in planning this year’s senior night to show all of the seniors how thankful the team is that they were apart of the softball program at our school for many years.

“Senior night is important to me because I am close to the girls. I grew up playing ball by their side and to see my last season playing with them come to an end is very emotional for me,” Grogg said. “The deserved to feel special and appreciated.”

After playing softball since she was seven years old and being a varsity starter for four consecutive years, senior night was very special for Brown as she reflected on her decade long softball career and all the memories she has made while playing the game.

“I’m going to miss standing in the circle and throwing out the first pitch,” Brown said. “I’m going to miss the feeling of being in control of the game [and I’m also going to miss] the cheers and chants [from my teammates] and my dad yelling from the stands. Most of all, I’m going to miss my girls.”

Unlike Brown, Lopez-Flores did not join the Varsity Softball team until she was a junior. Over the years, many people have influenced her on and off the field, but she feels the former JV softball coach, Christy Oakes has been the most beneficial to her success both academically and athletically.

“Oakes believed in me on and off the field and when I was about to quit, she reminded me why I started playing in the first place,” Lopez-Flores said.

In addition to softball, Stuart also participated in basketball at our school for two years. Since she decided to not play basketball after her sophomore season, so softball was the first and last senior night she experienced despite being a multi-sport athlete in former years.

“Senior night wasn’t the best because [we lost] to Waynesboro by slaughter rule, which was what made it bad, but the overall gifts, love and support made it a good experience,” Stuart said.

Although the seniors enjoyed their softball senior night surrounded by fans, coaches, teammates and family members, the Varsity Softball team lost with a final score of 12-0, so the team remains winless so far this season.