Stuart Softball Snaps 13-Year Losing Skid

By Mike Hume

Keera Batiste and the Raiders celebrated in style after Monday's win. (News-Press photo)

It may have seemed a little overboard, but after a snapping a losing streak that spanned 13-years, the prolonged and long-overdue celebration for J.E.B. Stuart softball team’s 3-2 victory over George Mason High School was richly deserved.

The Raiders scored a run in the first, second and fourth innings and then held on for the win behind tight, error-free defense from infielders Lina Awadallah, Daisha Grayson and Julia Frankenstern. Keera Batiste went the distance on the mound to earn the win.

Batiste helped herself out at the plate as well, scoring two of the team’s three runs.

The victory set off a celebration to rival the victory parade thrown for the World Series Champion Red Sox.

“The girls were screaming, crying and just downright overjoyed,” Stuart Head Coach Kristi Palmer said of her team’s reaction after the final out. “We took pictures in front of the scoreboard and they even drenched me with water.”

The celebration carried on through the next day when the win was featured in the school’s daily announcements and a cake was brought to congratulate the team’s coaches during lunch. One teacher even decorated Palmer’s classroom. After the next day’s practice, Palmer through a pizza party for her team.

“All the students and teachers were congratulating us the entire day,” Palmer said. “It was a great feeling. The school was really proud of us.

“I’m so proud of the hard work that the team has put in with me the last two years. This victory [did not come] overnight. The team has worked hard for two seasons and it is starting to show. We still have a lot left to learn but we are on our way to the top.”

The Raiders had another chance to showcase their improvement on Wednesday night against Yorktown, though results were not available for press time. Stuart next takes the field Monday April 11 in a rematch with George Mason, this time on Mason’s home field. The first pitch is at 5 p.m.

“The girls now know what a win feels like,” Palmer said. “They know that they can do it. The confidence of the team has gone up dramatically. We have always been graceful losers, but now we’re ready to be graceful winners.”