By JENNIFER BAILEY / For the Reporter

On May 8, 2015 the Hope Christian School softball team competed in the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Division II Championship and won. The tournament was held in Dayton, Tenn. and six teams competed for the Division I and Division II titles. Hope won four games, earning the Division II title.

Hope head coach Tommy Walker, explained that Hope, “lost some games that they shouldn’t have,” costing them the Alabama Christian Sports Conference (ACSC) win.

Walker said that the NACA Division II win was a, “great redemption after blowing the conference win.”

Hope softball started the NACA tournament with a 15-11 record. Their tournament record was 4-2, and they ended their season with a 14-1 win over Fort Worth THESA in the final game of the NACA tournament. The wins at the NACA tournament made their overall record for the 2015 season 19-13.

Walker said that the team had several key players throughout the season. Junior Amanda Rowley is the team’s pitcher who pitched for the team most of the season.

Samantha Rowley, sophomore, is a catcher, pitcher, and a power hitter. Juniors Ellania Walker, Kathleen Clark and Sarah Birdsong were also key players, said Walker.

All of these players will be returning for the 2016 softball season. This year, only one player graduated. All of the 2015 starters will be coming back for the 2016 season.

Because of this, Walker said that he believes that the Hope softball team can win the NACA Championship again next year. Walker said that the goal for next season is to “win the ACSC conference, the ACSC tournament and the NACA Division I championship.”

Walker said that he feels good about his team going into the next season.