Mountains to overcome

Varsity softball team continues winning streak, prepares for challenges at districts

A+member+of+the+varsity+softball+team+nails+an+incoming+ball+into+the+outfield.+The+teams+talent+in+batting%2C+especially+from+senior+Kaitlyn+Chadwick%2C+will+help+enormously+to+overcome+Troy+later+in+the+season.

Sydney Robbins

A member of the varsity softball team nails an incoming ball into the outfield. The team’s talent in batting, especially from senior Kaitlyn Chadwick, will help enormously to overcome Troy later in the season.

Craig Eddy, Staff reporter

Following a close win against Fort Zumwalt West (10-7) on the 19th, and a steamroll against Timberland (12-0) last friday, the varsity team has started preparing themselves for the big competition of districts.

Although they were later defeated by Troy (11-3) on the Sept. 20, their spirits are still high as they hope for the future of their season. The winning streak has been continuing through the season, but later games against reputable teams like FHHS and Troy will test them to their limits.

Senior Liz Harmon, centerfielder, believes the challenges the team will face are not insurmountable.

“If there’s a big mountain in front of us, it’s definitely Troy.” Harmon said.

Troy was the 2016 state champion and one of the best teams in the state, but Harmon believes her team can overcome them.

“We have the skill and the talent,” she explained. “We just have to mentally prepare ourselves for Troy.”

As Harmon talks about skill and talent, left fielder Dakota Thorpe, senior, added her two cents.

“We have a lot of older skill that really contributes to the winning,” she said.

As older skill and experience is given, that experience must be lost with time, as junior Loren Harrison, pitcher explains.

“We definitely have a lot of good seniors we’re going to be losing,” Harrison said. Like all good teams, some players must be lost, but these losses open new opportunities for more success.

Unlike last year, when the team’s season ended in districts against FZW, they hope to succeed this year and end the streak. With districts in three weeks rapidly approaching, Thorpe hopes they can overcome previous challenges there.

“I just hope we get past districts, because we always lose [there],” she said. “I hope we get farther than we did last year.”

Although districts have historically been tough, Harrison looks ahead to the future of state.

“[State] is a big goal, but if we work at it we can get it,” Harrison said.

The 2017 varsity softball team continues to prepare for their district bouts, where they will play FZW, FHHS, FHN, and Troy; they hope to reach sectionals and the Final Four beyond.