Not that superstitious

By Michael A. Cummings
michaelc@cullmantimes.com

May 05, 2008 11:56 pm

— GOOD HOPE — Things are starting to shape up much the same way they did last year across the I-65 bridge at Good Hope Municipal Park.
Much like last season, Good Hope’s softball team got off to a slow start this year, struggling to replace a senior-heavy lineup.
And much like last season, the Lady Raiders started to pull it together around area tournament time.
But unlike last season, Good Hope’s Class 3A, Area 11 hopes were dashed at the last hurdle last week by a streaking Danville team that won three straight times Friday to take the tournament title.
Nonetheless, the Lady Raiders are back in the sub-state playoffs for a second straight year — though that seems to be the extent of the similarities between last year’s veteran squad and this season’s more youthful edition.
“Not really,” said coach Amanda Swann when asked whether this year’s team had many superstitions out on the diamond. “But last year we were very superstitious.”
Talk about the understatement of the year.
Swann led the way last season with the superstitions — among other things keeping rocks in her shorts at the state tournament for good luck. Several players refused to change their lucky uniforms until they lost and Samantha Stone insisted on playing with tattered cleats during the winning.
But this year, things have been different — though the winning has continued. With a win today at Munford, the Lady Raiders will make a second consecutive trip to the state quarterfinals.
Last year’s trend-setting team was senior-heavy, allowing the players to be comfortable with each other and with their coach. So much so, in fact, that Swann and her players traded off turns dunking each other with the Gatorade cooler.
“She’s more like a mom than a coach,” said senior catcher Jessica Raper, referring to Swann. “She understands us because she’s not old. And we like that she’s a woman.”
But even though the chemistry between the coaching staff and the players has been there all season, it’s taken awhile to develop an intra-team bond.
“I’m not used to playing with these girls,” Raper said of Good Hope’s young squad. “I’m used to having people tell me what to do.”
According to Raper, the team lost more than a starting catcher last year when Sabrina Yarbrough graduated. A vocal presence on the diamond, Yarbrough was one of the team’s many leaders.
Now Raper, as well as Lashay Henke and Sabrina’s sister Brianna are the only three seniors on the team. And that’s been a tough role to fill.
“I try to get them up, but I think they’re young so I can’t really scream at them,” Raper said.
Not that having a young team is totally a bad thing.
“I think a lot of people underestimate us because we have lots of small players,” Raper added. “They’re young, but they’re good athletes.”