After a crushing loss in last year’s state semifinals, the softball team looks to run it back all the way to a state championship. What’s rare about this team is that the roster is composed of all but two returning players.

This is something that simply doesn’t happen in high school athletics, yet here we are. All of these players know the pain that came with last season’s loss, and they all know what it is going to take in order to bring home a ring.

“We’ve been very lucky to be able to play with the same team that got us to the final four in years past,” said senior Kendal Smith.

This excitement has buzzed throughout the team as the players talk about their hopes for the season.

“It’s really crazy that we’re playing with pretty much the exact same team this year,” said junior Megan Ware.

There is now more pressure than ever for the team to win the state championship because of their success last year and what that could mean for this season. 

For Ware, she doesn’t let this pressure get to her. She takes the season one game at a time.

“I don’t feel any pressure,” she said. “We just need to play the way that we do and hope we can be successful from there.”

So far, it doesn’t appear that the pressure has cracked the team at all, as they’re on an absolute heater. The girls have started the season red hot with only one loss so far.

Things are trending in the right direction for the Bengals, but they can’t let up. It’s key for the team to continue to play at a high level so that they can get a favorable seed in the state tournament.

You can catch the softball team at the diamond on Wednesday on the road versus the Middle Creek at 6:00 p.m.