After a rough season last year with only one district win, the varsity Akins softball team is making a comeback under new head coach Tony Degelia.

The team is currently 5-7 in district play and some of the losses have been close games. Players attributed the team’s success to his leadership.

”He is really tough on us,but he sees our potential,” junior Lauren Degelia said.“Last year we won one game and now we have been winning, and if we don’t win it’s us putting up a fight.”

Sophomore Rebecca Duran said coach Degelia helps to encourage the players to do their best even when things don’t always go their way.

“We actually kept our heads up and we try more. Yes everybody has improved more due to Coach Degelia,” Duran said.

Duran said she believes team members are getting along well and playing as a unified unit.

“We’re really good actually if we just believe in ourselves we can beat anybody here,” she said.

Other players said they have enjoyed playing this year because it helps provide them with an emotional release in addition to the physical work out it provides.

“When I was little I had to get rid of emotions,”said Duran who also plays for the Yes Next Generation select team in South Austin.. “I had a lot of family problems. My dad he said I was really good so I stuck with it.”

The team’s recent 6-5 win over the Lehman Lobos is inspiration for what the team can accomplish when they play together and avoid mistakes.

“We could’ve done a lot better. There was one inning where we went down and I feel like that if we would have improved during that inning we wouldn’t have messed up,” Degelia said..

Two freshmen players proved their skills in tryouts and made it to the varsity team this year.

Freshman Annalia Rubio said she feels excited now, but at first she was nervous to make it to the varsity team.

“I’ve really been working hard for this,” Rubio said. “I think we did good (during the Lehman game). Lately I’ve been doing a lot better and moved up in lineup and at the beginning I was kind of struggling but now I feel like I’ve gotten better.”

Despite some losses, Lauren Degelia said she enjoyed playing this season.

“I feel like we’re doing good so far and we are gonna eventually be as good as we can,” Degelia said.