ATHENS, Ga. — A community is mourning the loss of a standout Georgia softball player killed in a crash in Louisiana.
Geri Ann Glasco, 24, died early Thursday morning in an accident in LaFayette caused by a tractor trailer.
She was the daughter of University of Louisiana softball coach Gerry Glasco and worked alongside him as an assistant coach for the team.
Channel 2's Tom Regan was in Athens, where Glasco was a force on the mound during her two years as pitcher for the University of Georgia softball team. She helped lift UGA to its first SEC tournament in history in 2014.
Regan talked to the coach of Glasco's high school softball team, Brain Eades, who said he was proud to have coached her as a senior at Oconee County High School.
"She was my Hershel Walker," Edes said, referring to the former UGA and NFL football star. "One of those once-in-a-generation type of players that you're fortunate enough to have."
Glasco was a four-time all-state player in high school adn picked up a national player of the year trophy her senior year.
"She set the state record that year for 34 home runs," Eades said. "She has 62 RBI's. Her batting average was 564."
Eades said he was stunned to learn the news of her death.
"I don't have any words to explain how I felt, honestly," Eades said. "It was an awfuls shock."
TRENDING STORIES:
- President Trump announces deal to temporarily reopen government
- GBI identifies man wanted in shooting deaths of 4 people in Polk County
- Woman bitten by python hiding in toilet
Glasco was named SEC co-freshman of the year during her first year playing for UGA. She transferred from UGA to Oregon where she continued to play and earned a degree in special education.
Glasco moved to Louisianna after college to become an assistant coach on her father's softball team.
Glasco's father taught her how to play softball at a young age and later coached her as an assistant at UGA.
Her high school sounselor, Cindy Rhodes, said her legacy stretches far beyond the softball field. Rhodes said Glasco had a passion for helping and mentoring children and accumulated hundreds of volunteer hours.
"She always had a smile on her face, always a leader," Rhodes said.