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Sports

Canterbury Softball Coach Enjoying Aftermath of State Championship

The Crusaders girls' softball squad won a state championship two weeks ago, the first state title in any sport.

Roughly two weeks after capturing the school's first title in any sports, Canterbury softball coach Jody Moore is still celebrating her team's success.

"Of course not!" Moore reacted when asked if she's come down off of Cloud 9 from the championship win. "I'm going to work this one the whole year."

The win for Moore and her girls was especially sweet since the Crusaders advanced to the Class 1A state tournament in the three previous seasons only to come up empty-handed each time.

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The school hasn't forgotten the girls' accomplishment either. There was a special party and a school assembly. A poster of the softball team was awarded to team members at the Canterbury sports awards banquet.

That's not all. A sign is being erected at the school entrance off of 62nd Avenue North to honor the 2011 softball squad. That project is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

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Moore is probably more excited about the near future.

"We're going to Herb Jones to get our rings ordered," Moore said. Herb Jones is a jeweler, and each member of the team will be fitted for a FHSAA Class 1A state championship ring.

"The booster club will help us," Moore said of the costs of the bling.

In the coming weeks, the school plans to erect a permanent plaque at the school's softball field to honor the team.

Moore's even becoming a celebrity of sorts. Since the team won the state title, she has been playing phone tag with St. Petersburg city officials. Moore isn't sure what they want but she suspects the city will also want to honor the team in some way.

Despite her fame in local softball circles, don't expect Moore to leave Canterbury any time soon. It's not uncommon for coaches of small schools, once they have had success, to move on to much bigger if not better programs.

That's not happening with Moore, she said.

"Oh, no, I'm heavily invested in Canterbury," Moore, the school's director of technology, said. "I have children at the school and I couldn't dream of sending my kids anywhere else. It's really nice to take partnership in the school and to watch my kids grow with the school and get the best education they can. That's the gift of a lifetime.

"I really enjoy working at Canterbury."

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