The softball team’s district run came to a sudden and disappointing end against the Lone Jack Mules on May 10 with Lone Jack scoring late in the game and taking the 5-6 win. Despite the loss, the season was still a great success with a record of 14-2.
The team struggled with injuries with three varsity players out, but ended in full strength. The team’s only two losses of the season were to the Skyline Tigers (3-4) in the eighth inning on April 8 and the second round of the district tournament to Lone Jack.
“It definitely was not the outcome we expected, but we will work harder next year to get the outcome we want,” sophomore second baseman Olivia Strange said.
The softball team has won districts for four years in a row and hoped to make it five plus a state title. The Ladycats had won the Ozark Highlands Conference championship against the El Dorado Springs Bulldogs 6-2.
“As a team we have done pretty well at scoring lots of runs and being very aggressive on the bases,” senior first baseman Karlie Jones said.
In order to prepare for the big game they worked on their hitting by getting as many reps as they could during practice and outside of practice.
“We do lots of tee work, bottom hand, extension, and full. Then we do a lot of front toss in cages or work off machines,” Strange said.
“It’s more of a mind game than anything, so just focusing on offense and how I can better the team,” senior center fielder Jillian Guiot said.
With one of the biggest games of the year they had to prepare themselves as a team and individually. The team works hard to hype each other up to get better relationships together and to be the best teammates possible.
“We’re constantly building each other up instead of down. Because let’s be real, what kind of teammate would you be if you tore your peers down,” senior third baseman Madison Coskey said.
Despite how the season turned out the players worked hard and created great memories throughout the season.
“My favorite memory is our team dinners in Megan’s room where we all laughed and had really good conversations and became a family,” senior catcher Taylor Howe said.