The Glenvar softball team has their work cut out for them as they enter the Conference 38 softball tournament at the Botetourt Sports Complex. The Highlanders need to beat the regular season champ, then win the tournament to advance to Region 2A West play.

Glenvar was scheduled to meet James River in the opening round of conference play on Wednesday, although that could have changed depending on the weather. The Knights beat Glenvar twice during the regular season and have a regional berth locked up by having the best conference record in the regular season.

If Glenvar can beat River in the semifinal, they would still have to win the championship to get the second conference bid and join James River in the regional. Floyd County and Giles were scheduled to play in the other game Wednesday, and the Conference 38 championship is scheduled for Thursday, all at the Botetourt Sports Complex.

Glenvar comes into the post-season at 11-7. Last week they ended the regular season by splitting games with Floyd and slaughter-ruling Covington.

Last Wednesday at home the Highlanders lost to Floyd, 2-0, as Kaley Williams had the only hit for Glenvar. Abby Schoonover pitched well in defeat.

A day later, in Floyd, the Highlanders returned the favor with a 5-2 win. Emily Teaford and Olivia Adams cleared the fence on the Buffaloes’ home for home runs to give Schoonover the win in a game shortened by weather in the sixth inning. Teaford’s homer led off the game.

On Friday Glenvar had no trouble with Covington, winning 12-0 in five innings. Schoonover had a one hitter and faced just one batter over the limit. She got 15 outs in 16 tries without yielding a walk or having an error behind her.

Adams had three hits and Teaford, Williams, McKenzie Pulliam and McKenna Jarvis had two each. Jarvis and Pulliam drove in three runs each and Teaford had two doubles.

The Highlanders came into the post-season with seven wins in their last 10 games, and the three losses were by a total of four runs.

“Our game with James River is big,” said coach Rick Street. “I know we can beat them, we played them close twice.”