The Lady Glads celebrate their run rule win against rival school, Cedar Shoals High School, on Aug. 27. This was the softball team’s third win of the season. “I’m really proud of them. We have had a great season compared to what we have previously been doing,” varsity softball player and senior Autumn Venson-Roscoe said. Photo by Julie Alpaugh.
By JORDAN RHYM – Print Copy Editor
The varsity softball team is going to the 8-AAAAA regional tournament for the first time in eight years on Sept. 28.
In her second season as head varsity softball coach, April Tedeschi is leading the varsity softball team to their first 8-AAAAA Region Tournament in eight years in addition to posting eight wins so far this season.
“I came into this program with this mindset that I was on a five-year program for building this, building softball up over the years,” Tedeschi said. “(We are) just progressing as we go on. So, better in each step, better in each year.”
Two years ago, the Lady Glads had not won a game for seven consecutive seasons. Last season, the Lady Glads posted two wins. This year, the Lady Glads have won eight games with the region tournament in sight.
“The top eight teams make it to region. We were (tenth) in the region, so we were like (two) wins away from the region last year,” Tedeschi said. “And we have added a new school since, so now there are 11 schools.”
With Discovery High School in Gwinnett County being added to the region, varsity softball player Autumn Venson-Roscoe, a senior, believes her team is working harder at practices to gear themselves for the tournament on Monday Sept. 28.
“I can definitely say if anything they’ve picked up the pace. (The coaches) know we have more on the line, which Coach T has put quite frankly: she is no longer going to treat us like a losing team, we’ve earned it and need to show our hard work in order to play in the next game,” Venson-Roscoe said.
Tedeschi is now looking forward to the tournament and seeing how her players do in the competition.
“I’m just kind of hopeful or excited for the opportunity (of going to the regional tournament) because it is the first time it’s happened in like seven or eight years. So, (our plan is to) just go in with an open mind, play our best and whatever happens, happens,” Tedeschi said.
