After narrowly missing the playoffs last year, varsity softball is starting off the season as a developed group of strong athletes following years of preparation and practice.

“It was such a close game, but we came out and won,” junior Ella Bissonnette said. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

Starting off the 2022 season, the varsity softball team consisted of seven underclassmen who now have two years of experience under their belt. What was once seen as a foreseeable future has now become a reality as the softball team is showing a new level of competitiveness and renewed success.

Moving into the 2023 season, the team lost to McIntosh 21-0 and missed the playoffs, but this season has carried the best start for the Lady Panthers under head coach Peyton Dean.

“What’s so fun about seeing the success with this team is knowing this is the same team we taught fundamental things two years ago,” Dean said. “Now we’re teaching the fun, big ideas, the little concepts.”

Wednesday night, varsity softball defeated McIntosh, 7-6. 

In the first few innings, the Panthers struggled to keep up with McIntosh only scoring one run while the Chiefs scored three. 

Moving into the fourth inning, the Panthers tied the game at 4-4. After that, the game continued to be close. 

Entering the bottom of the 7th inning, the Panthers were down 6-4. With the bases loaded, Bissonnette stepped up to the plate and batted in the tying run. Sophomore Livi Irwin scored the game-winning run on a passed ball.

“We had a lot of grit,” senior Emma Arnold said. “When McIntosh started jumping up on points, we started fighting back.”

The team showed a positive as well as aggressive outlook on the game, never blinking an eye at the beginning numbers on the scoreboard and playing with a confidence only a player with years behind them would emit.

“They’ve just gotten experience over the years and started to believe in themselves and trust themselves,” Dean said. “They played with so much grit tonight, and that’s something we can’t coach.”

Following the win against McIntosh, Starr’s Mill softball is now 5-0 overall.

“If anyone knows us last year, we’re a completely different team from where we were and who we were,” junior Ella Bissonnette said.

The Panthers host Whitewater at 7 p.m. on August 19 in junior varsity and varsity doubleheader.