In a tight, gridlock battle for the top spot in the PIL (Portland Interscholastic League) and a home playoff game, the softball team hopes to keep their good fortune and team chemistry rolling as the season comes to an end. 

The team, as of Apr. 30, is third in the PIL with a 7-3 league record and an 8-8 overall record. The team did struggle in the preseason-going 1-6—but has since then bounced back with that 7-3 record in the league 

“We found a nice way to get into league so far. Preseason was a challenge but a good challenge to get into league and feel the competition early,” Sophomore player Lucy Anderson said. 

Last year, the team won the PIL and this year is hoping to repeat that with some new leaders and strong team chemistry. 

“It’s such a great group of athletes and they’re just strong together, they love playing with each other and the team dynamic is just really good,” Head Coach Jenny Briley said.  

Briley isn’t just the only one who has highlighted the team chemistry this season. Both Anderson and Junior Kaylie Schmitz agreed on the strength of the team chemistry and the ability they have to play together. A bond that hopefully takes them to the state playoff season.

“We’ve found a good way to bond, the communication has been really good in the field and everybody’s is like a family and cheering each other on,” Anderson said. 

Schmitz also highlighted the team’s chemistry and the strong bond that they have grown with each other as the season rolls on. 

“We’ve really just come together,” Schmitz said, “The ways people have come together even though we have our differences.”

One of the team’s strengths this year is the number of seniors, with 9 seniors on the varsity team, enough to play a whole varsity squad. But also, the strength and the leadership of the juniors and sophomores in the team has not gone unnoticed. 

“We also have a lot of sophomores and juniors who are also stepping up into those roles which is really nice to have,” Briley said. 

Something the team has and will continue to keep working on as the season goes on is communication. According to Schmitz, the team had some struggles in communicating at the start of the season but has since found their footing. 

“It’s something we work on every practice and we’re starting to see it pay off in games,” Schmitz said. 

According to Briley, the standout players so far this season have been: Schmitz for loving the game and the team itself, sophomore Jessie Brill for her skill at the plate and also pitching and shortstop, freshmen Amira Edwards for her athleticism, and Senior Anna Gladwin for her positivity and energy that she brings to the game. 

The goal for Briley and the team is to go to the state playoffs and possibly repeat as PIL champions, but also to keep having fun playing as a team with their chemistry and skill among all grade levels.