The varsity and JV softball teams, led by head coaches John Reina and Stephanie Shaker, respectively, are in the midst of a season-long challenge to prove themselves.
The varsity team is working to achieve fourth place in the district in order to qualify for regionals.
“First, second, third place are all pretty set with Madison, McLean and Stone Bridge,” shortstop Kayla Marsh, senior, said. “But fourth place is really up for anyone.”
The varsity team is currently 6-5.
“It’s going to [be] really tough,” Marsh said about the team’s goal of getting fourth in the district.
Meanwhile, the JV team is trying to shake off the weight of a 2-8 season record.
“We can beat these teams,” JV player Amani Greene, sophomore, said. “But we have a bad inning … or something happens and we end up losing.”
The teams are off to a mixed start. Their most recent matches were held last Friday against Langley High School. After Friday, teams will begin to play each other for the second time.
Both JV and varsity lost to Langley High School earlier in the season, though Marsh added that Langley was a team that the Lady Statesmen could beat.
Langley JV beat the JV team 11-6 last Friday. Varsity lost 6-10.
Varsity’s most recent win was against South Lakes High School 4-3 on April 17. JV lost 4-11 against South Lakes.
The teams also lost against Stone Bridge High School, “the best team in the district,” according to Marsh, on April 13.
“They’ve slaughtered other teams that we’ve slaughtered,” Marsh said. “So [we were]…kind of scared, but [we] just [went] out there and [played] our best.”
Stone Bridge won 12-0. Despite this setback, Reina expects that varsity will qualify for regionals.
“I have high expectations for this team,” Reina said.
JV also lost to Stone Bridge, which Greene attributes to the Stone Bridge’s “place hitters.” Place hitters specialize in controlling the direction of the ball.
The softball teams also played Madison on April 24.
Results were not available as of press time.