[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9711]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING NORTH STOKES TO SOFTBALL VICTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2014

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, in sports, a strong support system can hold 
the key to success and that is what helped the North Stokes softball 
team defeat Whiteville 10-1 on Saturday to capture the North Carolina 
High School Athletic Association 1A state softball championship. I am 
proud to say that the Lady Vikings, who call the Sixth District of 
North Carolina home, won the title two games to one this past weekend.
  Knowing the road to success can be a bumpy one, family, friends and 
other community members lined the streets with signs cheering on the 
softball team as they headed out for the championship in hopes that 
their spirit-filled send off would make the sailing a little smoother 
for the Lady Vikings.
  The support of the community, however, was not the only helping hand 
for the team along their journey to the top. The Lady Vikings defense 
provided the squad with a much-needed edge. The outfield took charge by 
honing in on multiple drives to alleviate potential extra-base hits. 
``Our defense was awesome,'' Head Coach Jeff Frye told the Winston-
Salem Journal. ``I thought that played a bigger part in getting us 
pumped up. I think it just got momentum on our side.''
  ``I'm just tickled,'' Vikings Pitcher Lindsay Brown told the Stokes 
News moments after the victory was secured. She had reason to be happy. 
Not only did she pitch the title-clinching game, she was also named the 
series' Most Valuable Player.
  Coach Frye credits the team's success to their strong ability to face 
all obstacles. Besides MVP Brown, the team included Sabrina Dodson, 
Emily Evans, Tana Frye, Chandley Garner, Tristan Hubbard, Hannah Mabe, 
Hannah McBride, Emily Myers, Heather Nall, Emma Petree, Ashley Smith, 
and Carson Watkins. The Vikings path to victory was aided by assistant 
coaches Barry Dodson, Rebecca Gunter, and Randy Shelton.
  On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we 
congratulate Principal Nathan Rasey, Athletic Director Trey Wiggins, 
the faculty, staff, and students of North Stokes High for winning the 
1A state softball championship. In the case of the Lady Vikings, they 
proved that a strong support system can lead to a championship.

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