TAMPA, FL - The 2020 Newsome softball team came into its season with all the right stuff. They also had the right swag.

The Wolves were on a mission to right a wrong after falling in last season’s 9A State Title game in extra innings (3-2 loss to Park Vista in eight innings).

“We had a goal of going back to states and winning it all this year.,” said senior outfielder Madison Hudson.

For the first eight games of the season, the Wolves looked every bit like a team destined to get back to the state tournament in Clermont. But then, everything was put on hold due to the spread of the Coronavirus.

It was a crippling announcement that also put spring high school seasons in jeopardy. With no true end in site, Newsome softball is facing the cold reality that their final game might have been March 12^th – a 10-0 win over Gaither.

“We went into that game, then came out and then everyone was talking about how ‘oh, yea, they’re probably going to have to shut everything down,’” said senior shortstop, and captain, Lindsey Harper. “We didn’t really have time to think about it, honestly.”

The seniors aren’t giving up just yet. Hoping for the virus curve to flatten out, they have kept up communication with teammates about maintaining workouts during this time of social distancing.

“We text every single week on your mile times and still running and staying active and in shape,” said Hudson, who is signed to play at Coastal Carolina.  “Personally, I run every single day or if I am not running I am hitting. So, its more of the fact of you have to keep yourself mentally and physically prepared.”

“We’re not going to stop until its for sure that we either play or we don’t,” said Harper, who has signed with U-Tampa.

The wolves will be ready if the time comes for them to get back on the field this spring. But their parents and coach are making sure that if they can’t go back, the seniors will always be remembered. The team’s Twitter page has been filled with senior photos and anecdotes.

“It’s really just to let them know that even though they might never put on a Newsome uniform again, they have left such a major impact on our program and we have been super-blessed to have them,” said Newsome head coach Ally Ledenham.

Coach Ally hopes that when people scroll through their Twitter feeds, they can stop on the Newsome tweets and take a moment to appreciate her seniors.

“It is nice that people can scroll through and see this group of seniors, but not feel bad for them and all that they are missing,” said Ledenham. “Rather, they can see what this group has accomplished in their 4 years in high school or what they are going to accomplish.”

The Newsome seniors know with each passing day, their chances of playing again grow slimmer. But they are prepared either way and hope when people do look at their twitter page, they will see a senior class devoted to excellence, even with an incomplete final season.

“It’s just more of a monument of seeing some of your accomplishments and how you have helped out with the team and some of the things you have done,” said Hudson. “It’s just cool to sit back and watch that. But it’s also very sad.”