Nansemond River High School graduate and softball star Sydney Glover was the lone Suffolk player to receive state-level recognition for the 2013 season. She was recently named to the Group AAA All-State second team.

“I was ecstatic for her,” Lady Warriors head coach Gabe Rogers said. “What a great honor for her achievements. She had a fantastic season.”

“We were thrilled when we got the news,” said Sydney’s father, Dave Glover, who served as an assistant coach for Nansemond River.

He pointed out that because the Lady Warriors did not advance beyond the district tournament to regional or state level play, he did not think she would gain any further recognition.

“So for her getting selected, it was just a tremendous accomplishment,” he said. “Couldn’t be prouder.”

Sydney said that Suffolk is often overlooked because its teams often do not advance deep into post-season play, but its players still work hard. Her first team All-Eastern Region recognition along with King’s Fork High School sophomore Sydney Wash highlighted that, and this state honor took it to another level.

“I just think it’s great for us to be able to represent Suffolk in that way,” she said.

Coach Glover credited Rogers for giving Sydney the freedom to use her own judgment when she was at bat. Rogers expressed his happiness with the results of that decision.

“We are in a district that produced the eventual state champions — a lot of quality softball players, a lot of quality pitchers,” he said.

“It was against the really good teams that she came up the biggest,” he said. “That’s what people take notice to.”

In 19 games, Glover had 35 hits, 10 RBIs, 21 runs scored and produced a batting average of .538 with a .600 on-base percentage.

Glover expressed her gratitude to Kirk Clayton, coach of state champion Great Bridge High School, who represented her before the state committee and was able to communicate her highlights.

She was excellent in the classroom this year as well, graduating as salutatorian at Nansemond River, and will be headed to Yale University in the fall.

As a new chapter begins, she said that she will be ending her softball career this summer.

She said, “I was really happy, especially in high school ball, that I was able to finish in such great standing.”