The Armstrong High girls’ softball team didn’t win the official Conference 26 championship. But the Wildcats did claim the unofficial Richmond city title.

In fact, Coach Glenn Anderson’s East Enders have been 16-0 during the past four seasons against Richmond rivals.

This past spring, Armstrong finished second behind Hopewell High School in Conference 26 regular season standings.

The Wildcats were then third at the Conference tournament.

Conference 26 consists of the five comprehensive high schools in Richmond plus Hopewell and Petersburg high schools.    

Two recent Armstrong graduates, Shannita Holmes and Rhauyan Page-Morton, finished their four-year careers never losing to a Richmond opponent.

Holmes, the All-Conference third baseman, and Page-Morton, the second-team utility selection, are both headed to Virginia Union University.

Richmond’s softball teams play under the unwritten rule of “do the best you can with what you’ve got.”

The Wildcats’ success is a tribute to Coach Anderson and his athletes. Armstrong has no on-campus diamond, meaning all games are on the road.

As for training, Coach Anderson says, “We’ll practice on whatever grass is available.”

Most Armstrong players have no experience upon joining the softball team.

“We have no feeder system. We teach them to play once they get here,” said Coach Anderson.

In fairness to all, Richmond’s other high schools must make do with similar limited resources. Only John Marshall High has an on-campus field and it is less than ideal.

Huguenot, George Wythe and Thomas Jefferson high schools, as well as Armstrong, must rely on city parks.

“It’s hard to build a program that way,” said Coach Anderson.