In 2017, the North Atlanta softball team finished with a regional record of 0-16 and a 2-20 record overall. Fast forward to this year, and the softball team is a force to be reckoned with. The Dubs finished with a 21-7 overall record and a perfect 12-0 record in regional play. After years of being considered an afterthought within NAHS sports, the newly crowned back-to-back regional champs are changing the narrative. 

Breaking a curse is no easy task. Just ask Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs fans. Both teams endured 85+ years without being crowned World Series champions. Coach Plante had his hands full when it came to turning this team around. Weekly practices and entering tournaments whenever and wherever they were available allowed players to be on the field more and build up the skills to compete, but most importantly, players came to play this year. Nearly every player on the team was batting north of .300 (considered above average) in terms of batting average, and as a whole the team put up a school record, 310 total runs. 

A dominant offense was not the only thing propelling the Warriors, however. Dub pitching and defense were respectively outstanding. Allowing only 66 runs on the entire year, North Atlanta finished the season with a +244 run-differential, a ridiculously good stat for the first place region champions (the next closest team was Lakeside with a +110). 

North Atlanta senior and team captain, Sarah Reynolds has been a part of the worst and now best of North Atlanta softball in this historic season. “The team this year is a lot more focused and dedicated to winning instead of playing casually or as a hobby.  Although we still have less productive games, I know that everyone cares a lot and has a desire to improve both individually and as a team to come back stronger. The new batch of freshmen have also significantly increased our team’s power and have the ability to lead the next generation of Dubs Softball.” 

Unfortunately the Dubs season came to an end after a hard-fought series in the first round of state playoffs, but the team’s spirit remains sky-high. North Atlanta senior and softball manager Will Hale was one of the team’s biggest bench supporters, but he says it’s more than just him. “The atmosphere in the dugout is loud and electric. Everyone is actively watching the game and bringing energy to the game. The morale is through the roof, and even if some girls are in a slump, they’re always being supportive and hard-working.” 

The past few seasons have inspired confidence in the players, coaches, and the entirety of North Atlanta. Players have already started putting in work with trainers and with their club teams, so when next fall rolls around, the Dubs will look to continue their run of softball supremacy.