Softball pushes through to qualify for CCS

Despite some trouble at the beginning of the season, the girls’ softball team qualified for CCS as the No. 12 seed.

Playing against No. 5 seed Valley Christian on May 20 to start off the Division II CCS softball tournament, the girls lost 2-1.

“The girls played really well in the Valley Christian game, especially since [the Valley Christian] pitcher is really good and renowned in the league,” junior catcher Savannah Green said. “We lost a lot of key players due to graduation, so it was great to just qualify for CCS.”

The starting pitcher, junior Eleni Spirakis, had a great game . Underclassmen such as sophomores Sophie and Maxine Par also had a strong game. The underclassmen stepped up their game when batting against Valley Christian’s star pitcher senior Brynne Fitzpatrick.

The team reached the point in the season at which, out of their last six games, they needed at least four wins to qualify for CCS.

Although the girls lost their last two games to Wilcox on May 12 and Homestead on May 14 with scores of 9-4 and 1-0, respectively, they clinched their CCS berth by winning their earlier games by beating Notre Dame 14-1 on May 9 and Gunn 3-1 on May 7.

“We were a little nervous about that because [those teams] had beaten us earlier in the season,” Bruno said. “We just kind of took a deep breath, took it game by game and ending up reaching our goal and making it to CCS.”

According to Bruno, the team knew they made CCS before their last two games, so they took the games as practice and had fun.

“The Wilcox game was our Senior Day, so for me, that day was more just about being around our teammates and having fun rather than the score,” Bruno said.

Overall, the season ended on a strong note for the girls. Not only did they meet their pre-season goals, they gained an experience they will never forget.

“This season was long but it was full of laughter, love, hard work and determination,” Bruno said. “It [was] pretty exciting to be in CCS, [and] it [was] definitely something that doesn't happen to every team!”