By LOU HATTER

By LOU HATTER

Rappahannock News Staff Writer

After two season of working to build a girls softball program at the high school, Coach Renee Leake thinks that this year the effort may pay off.

For starters, this season she hopes to play a full slate of games. Two years ago, in the program’s rookie year, the team managed only seven games. And last year, one of the wettest springs on record left cancellations unscheduled, which cut the season to only 11 games.

“I have a lot of young players,” Coach Leake said, “but at this point we’re way ahead of last year.”

The team sports only two seniors, who are joined by four juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen. So although the team may suffer some this year from lack of experience, “the future looks bright coo.”

The team’s attitude during preseason tryouts has been “incredible,” the coach said. Several times the team asked to stay past the 5 p.m., end of practice, working until 5:30 or until it was too dark to see, she said. “They’ve been out here every Saturday as well.”

“They are fun and easy to work with, and they listen really well.” After getting instructions or suggestions from the coach, “I look around and they are right on top of it.”

Coach Leake said she expects two returning players to anchor the team this season. Sherron Boddie, a sophomore, missed the first team All-District last year as a freshman by only one vote. She was also last year’s team MVP. Junior Deena Hitt made the second team All-District last season, “and I look for her to make the first team this year,” the coach predicted.

Senior Karen Payne will be the team’s starting pitcher. “Speed is one of her strongest points,” the coach said. Coupled with a consistent delivery, she should be a strong asset.

Karen’s sister, freshman Susan Payne, has even better speed than her older sister, Coach Leake said. “I’d hate to get in the batter’s box