04/18/2026
Well, our season has come to an end.
On day one, I made them a promise: if they gave me 100% of themselves, I guaranteed they’d be better by mid-April than they were when we started. And they held up their end. The impossible plays started to look routine. Fast pitching turned into a challenge instead of something to fear. Base running became more than just movement—it became a mission to cross home plate.
At the plate, I could see the fight in their eyes. They remembered what we talked about: the first two strikes belong to you, but that third strike belongs to the team. So choke up and make something happen. And they did.
We were young—five junior high girls learning the speed and situations of the game at this level. Did we make some mistakes? Sure. But that’s part of growth. What they gained this season is experience and understanding that some players won’t get for another couple of years.
I’m proud of each and every one of them.
This marks two straight years making the playoffs. Last year we were ranked 24th. This year, 21st. Next year, we’re aiming to break into the teens—and I believe we will.
Changing the way Lakeview parents view softball as compared to basketball and track might seem like a tall task. I don’t see it that way. I saw the joy these girls played with. I hear the conversations they’re having with their classmates. And I can feel it, I believe more girls are going to show up next year.
When that happens, I’ll know I’m building exactly what I set out to build in this Lakeview softball program.