By Tray Mason
Correspondent

When asked to use one word to describe this year’s Nansemond River softball team, head coach Tim Tarafas was simply stumped.

He couldn’t think of a word or short phrase to describe the team or how the season has gone for the Lady Warriors.

After a long pause Tarafas replied, “I really can’t come up with anything … and I think that has a lot to do with my confusion on what I know we have and our potential, and what we’re actually showing in the games right now.”

After a 1-4 start to the season, the Lady Warriors are definitely searching for their identity, although it’s clear they have talent, as they’ve been competitive in all four losses this season.

Their 5-2 loss to Deep Creek on Tuesday was the biggest scoring difference in any of the team’s four losses.

The Lady Warriors lost to Grassfield 5-3 in their district opener, after leading 3-0 in the game as late as the fifth inning. They took a second close defeat at the hands of Hickory, 3-2. Hickory and Grassfield are widely regarded as the top two teams in Hampton Roads.

NR also lost to cross-town rival Lakeland, 2-1.

“If you take a look at what we’ve done this season, we’re right there,” Tarafas said. “We’re just not putting the things together, but the season is still young.”

But the Warriors play in a district in which a team can’t lose many games before its chances of making the district tournament slip away. Only the top six teams make the Southeastern District Tournament.

“My expectations were that we’re a top team in the district,” Tarafas said. “The only problem with saying that is that we’re 1-4 right now, and that’s where my frustrations lie.”

The Lady Warriors welcomed a number of players back from last year’s squad, the one that beat rival Lakeland in the last-regular season game to win the sixth spot in the SED Tournament.

Tarafas says the team chemistry is great, better than last season, which is a key component for any team that aspires to be at the top of the standings.

“The chemistry is phenomenal,” he said. “We have talent across the board, and the girls get along great, and we don’t have any internal drama. I think we’re just trying to find our spark, and when we find what our spark is, we’re going to be better.”

NR next takes on rival King’s Fork at home on Friday at 5:30 p.m.