Ed Taylor, Sports Correspondent

The Lafayette Lady Hornets softball team had some big wins and had an outstanding season with several accomplishments that few thought would be possible this season. But for head coach Derek Garland the biggest win of the 2004 season for his team was a win over state ranked Trenton in the district playoffs.



“That was the biggest win for me because they were a ranked team,” Garland said during the spring sports banquet recently. “But for the girls the biggest win must have been when we beat Suwannee here.”



During the awards banquet senior Tori Lyons was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and the lone departing player from a team that finished 16-10 over all and winning their third straight district championship. It was the first that saw Coach Garland at the helm of the program taking over for Billy Shows, who led the team to the previous two district titles. “This was a learning experience for me,” said Garland. “It was the first time I have been involved with a girls team and they are different.”



Coach Garland mentioned the slow start his team had at the onset of the season overcoming some ups and downs as well as other obstacles. “I think they played their best softball the week of the district tournament,” he said.



Lena Brock went home with the Coaches Award for her determination to improve her game. “She would come out and want to know what she could do to be better,” said Coach Garland.



Junior Stacy Lewis had the team’s highest batting average while the best infielder’s award went to eighth-grader Natalie Land. “She made some big plays for us in the infield,” said Garland.



Nikki Daniels, who played leftfield, received recognition as the team’s best outfielder. “She has the best arm on the team,” the Lady Hornet coach said. Coach Garland said big things were to be expected next season with nearly the entire team returning intact.