By SAMUEL HOOD – Sports Editor
On Tuesday, Sept. 2, the Clarke Central High School varsity softball team lost its second matchup with Cedar Shoals High School this season.
For the second time this season, Clarke Central High School varsity softball head coach April Tedeschi and Cedar Shoals High School varsity softball head coach Cherrelle Kinnerson, a four year CCHS softball player, met on Sept. 2 for the crosstown rivalry between their respective teams.
After coming off a 10-9 loss that went into extra innings at CSHS on Thurs., Aug. 28, Tedeschi tried to invoke a positive attitude from her team for their Sep. 2 rematch.
This time, the competition would be held on the Lady Glads’ home ground.
“It was very emotional after Thursday, but I told them to put that behind them and focus on today’s game,” Tedeschi said. “We have to keep learning to put that behind us immediately and then get up on the rally the next inning instead of waiting until the last minute.”
While the Lady Glads were trying to get move past their previous loss, Kinnerson went into the game with the intention to make a point to her home school after being turned down for the position that Tedeschi received.
“I wanted to make a statement because I did knock down the doors of Clarke Central to get back home before Cedar Shoals got to me,” Kinnerson said.
Despite losing the CCHS varsity softball head coach position to Tedeschi, the only rivalry Kinnerson sees between them is that of their schools.
“I think there is (a rivalry), but only because it’s Clarke Central versus Cedar Shoals,” Kinnerson said. “Truly, I’ve bled red and gold because that’s where my heart is, but again, I’m a competitor. I’m going to go out fighting.”
The two teams opened up their second contest by each scoring a run, and stayed level until the fifth inning, when the Lady Jaguars notched three runs to take a 4-1 lead.
CSHS increased the lead to 6-2 before the seventh inning, when the Lady Glads notched three runs in a near comeback, only to fall short, finishing 6-5.
Even though the Lady Glads lost both games against CSHS this season, Tedeschi is already looking ahead to when the two teams meet again.
“Next year, we are going to come out and practice all summer and I expect some major improvements, even more than what I’ve seen this year,” Tedeschi said.
But as of right now, Tedeschi feels that the two losses against CSHS will provide motivation to further the program’s improvement.
“There should be pressure for them to perform to the next level because that’s how you get over that hump and win games,” Tedeschi said. “We won one game, so now we just have to get over this hump and win two or three more games. Whether it happens this season or next season, we’ve got to come out swinging.”
