Story by Griffin Pritchard | Publisher
Photos Courtesy of ACA Softball
CENTRAL ALABAMA SCOREBOARD — “I wasn’t interested in this job when I heard of Coach (Chris) Goodman’s plan to retire,” said Lauren Webster Veach, the new softball coach at Montgomery’s Alabama Christian Academy. “My main thought was (ACA administration) finding someone who would continue ACA’s tradition of excellence.”
She’s not exaggerating “tradition of excellence”: ACA has nine state championships in softball, appeared in the finals six other times finishing as runners-up for a total of 15 championship appearances, has played 113 state tournament games, winning 80 of them. They made 22 trips to Lagoon Park for the state tournament and started a new tradition this year with a berth in the first state tournament contested at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park.
“I met with ACA’s Head of School for what I thought would be a discussion about the softball program, its history, our community, and the City of Montgomery,” said Veach. “Our conversation soon turned to me becoming involved with the program either as the head coach, assistant, or even just a very part-time help with pitching. After our discussion, I knew I wanted to be a part of the ACA Family. I just wasn’t sure what that would look like yet.”
Veach – in her playing days known as Lauren Webster – was already a part of the ACA family, playing softball on the junior high and high school levels for coaches Denise Ainsworth (who initiated the school’s fastpitch program and later became Athletic Director and Goodman. She served as the Eagles’ ace inside the circle winning championships in 2007 and 2009. She left Montgomery for a career at UAB and currently holds Blazer’s records for ERA, fewest walks and strikeouts. She was also key to UAB advancing to the school’s only Super Regionals appearance in 2013.
Veach figured out her level of involvement and, last week was announced as Goodman’s successor and the new head coach of ACA softball. Lauren Webster Veach is now the third softball coach in the program’s storied history.
Goodman: “I believe she will do a great job. One of the top pitchers in Alabama and if I had a daughter that wanted to be a premier pitcher in Alabama, I’d send her to ACA.”
She was introduced at a press conference flanked by Ainsworth and Goodman.
Veach explains: “It’s such an honor to even be talked about in the same sentence as Coach Ainsworth and Coach Goodman. Their votes of confidence mean the world to me. Their words of encouragement along with Coach Paul Payne (Goodman’s longtime assistant coach) really helped me feel confident in my decision to take this job. I know I have their full support and I can call them anytime about anything. I’ve been told to make this my team. Don’t try to be the next Coach Ainsworth or Coach Goodman, just to be the Coach Veach I can be.”
While Veach is trying to find her voice as a coach, the expectations don’t change.
“State Championships. Period,” Veach said. “There’s only one other team in the state has more fastpitch state championships than ACA (Pisgah’s 10 to ACA’s 9). I know we will be young but very talented. I know they’re a bunch of fighters and I can’t wait to see them in action.”
Veach – her first hire was to bring in Meghan Harris, a standout at Edgewood Academy – said she and Harris “have plans to get together this summer with the girls and get to know them as soon as possible before we even step on the softball field. It’s also important to us that the girls get to know our families and kids.”
Founder/Publisher of Central Alabama Scoreboard. Former sportsguy, and managing editor.
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