Hoover High School’s softball team is nothing short of a well-rounded team. With multiple championships and victories under their belt, there is no doubt that these girls are ready for any challenge sent their way. At the time of publication, the varsity team has an overall record of 9-8, with a conference record of 4-4. Members of the team spoke about more than the records however — they spoke of the rich history and lasting legacy of the Lady Vikes.
Head coach Jerry Goodpasture works with his team every day to ensure they are on top of their game. He shares a bit of softball history, starting with the beginning of his career.
“I started coaching softball here at Hoover,” he said. “I think it was back in 1984 as an assistant. I was an assistant to the person who established the program in 1979. In 2005, I took the head coaching job, and I retired from teaching back in 1998.”
Goodpasture continues by sharing a bit of history regarding the origins of Hoover’s softball stadium, Goodpasture Stadium.
“We used to play down at Price Park,” he said. “That meant the players had to go down there every night for practice, and of course that didn’t work out. Then this property became available, and we kind of had first choice, and soon we started building our program. We had a few parents involved; it was a community effort. Since then we’ve been improving on it, and we are not done yet.”
Junior Sadie Carroll is on the varsity softball team. She shares what her main goal is for the rest of the season; not only as an athlete, but as a teammate.
“My goal for this season is to be a reliable teammate both on the field and in the batter’s box,” she said. “It’s important to be reliable so that your teammates know they can count on you in those do-or-die situations. Most importantly, my main goal is to have confidence in myself and have a good time.”
Sophomore Sienna Koosh reveals some of the achievements she and her team have accomplished over the past couple of years, and the experiences these brought upon her.
“As you can see, we have eight banners up in the gym,” She said. “Throughout Hoover softball there has always been a long line of talent. We were Federal League Champions last year. I started as a freshman on varsity and got to experience going to state, and helped my team move along in the playoffs.”
Junior Reagan Hawk strongly believes in a well-bonded team.
“I think strong bonds within a team are important because they can connect with each other better and support and cheer on each other throughout the season,” she said. “Having friendships within the team can make you feel more comfortable and confident with the people around you.”
Koosh shares her thoughts on what it means to be a close-knit team of players, on and off the field
“Strong bonds are what holds the team together,” she said. “There’s no ‘I’ in team and this game is definitely a team effort. I do believe if you don’t do something good and get down on yourself, your team always helps to pick you back up.”
Finally, Carroll shares some final statements regarding the impact softball has had on her life. She describes various characteristics that she has learned from being a part of the team, and overall life lessons.
“I will never be able to thank softball for all that it has taught me,” she said. “This sport has taught me to hard work, leadership, and most importantly, perseverance. Everyone makes mistakes, but what’s most important is how you react and move forward.”