RED BAY — The Red Bay Lady Tigers softball team had a lot of ups and downs over these past two seasons.

Red Bay lost several starters to other sports or to graduation two years ago, and the girls did not have the kind of season they have had in the past.

The team was plagued by injuries and managed only a few wins during the regular season this year.

Despite the rough couple of years, a few things did go the Lady Tigers’ way this season.

The team took second at the area tournament, which gave earned it a spot in the regional tournament at Huntsville.

The other positive is senior Audrey Goss, an outfielder for the Lady Tigers, signed with Northeast Mississippi Community College.

“I have been playing softball for about six years now,” Goss said. “I was really young, and I joined a team out of Greenville, Miss., where I’m from.

“It was a small get together team, and after that I got interested in the sport. Dad worked with me on it, and I got to where I loved the sport.

“I really worked towards signing a college scholarship. That was my main goal.

“That’s what kept me going; wanting to sign and make something of myself through the game of softball.

“I loved playing at Red Bay and getting to know the girls over there. I really enjoyed it, and it helped me work towards my goal.

“This fall I will be attending Northeast. I will be working out there and getting ready for our season that starts in the spring.”

Goss, a stand out player at Red Bay, said that a few factors led to her decision to go to Northeast.

“It seemed like a really good school,” she said. “The girls there are really close, it is close to home, my mom and dad can come and watch me play any time and I like the school’s location.

“I’ll probably be anywhere in the outfield. I like playing in the outfield, so anywhere out there would be good for me.”

Signing on with a college is a dream come true for many high school athletes, but there are some challenges that come with the territory.

“I am so excited,” Goss said.

“We have a summer league going right now for just the freshman girls. It’s got me really excited for the season coming up.

“I’m excited to learn to be on my own and get used to that, but I’m going to miss my parents and being with them all the time.

“I am excited about going off and learning things about life on my own.”

Goss has been playing softball for several years now, so experience is certainly something she has when it come to the sport.

As far as a favorite moment while playing the sport is concerned, Goss did not have to think that far back for an answer.

“My favorite moment was this year when we got second at the area tournament,” she said.

“The girls came together, worked as a team and we showed that we could do that.”