The Bison softball team won their first playoff game on Monday, May 7, routing the Warrensville Heights Tigers 13-0.

The Bison had multiple great hits from sophomore captain Carly Petty, senior pitcher Ann Weaver and others, with a well-pitched game from Weaver.

Senior captain Nathalie Conn reflected on the game against the Tigers.

“Warrensville made lots of errors,” she said. “Of course we had our mistakes too, but it was nice to win the game especially after not having a good record.”

This is Conn’s second year playing softball.

“This is the first time in a long time we made it to a sectionals game, and it was exciting,” she said.

On Tuesday May 8th, the Bison played their second sectionals game against the #2 seeded team Wellington Dukes.

In the first two innings, the Lady Bison held their ground, keeping the score 0-0, considering they were missing a teammate who happened to be a starter. But then Wellington gained momentum, defeating the Bison 10-0.

Conn is happy with how the season ended, even though this is her last year.

“We definitely had a better record than last year, and we beat Orange twice,” she said. “We meshed better as a team, and we had a team dinner, which was fun.

This is the first time in recent years that the team has won a playoff game.

“It showed the improvement of the team because we were working really hard this season, so it felt like an accomplishment,” sophomore captain Miranda Luxenburg said.

No ‘I’ in ‘Team’

One thing that was clear this season is that the teammates supported one another: they cheered from behind the fence, fingers intertwined with the openings of the metal as they screamed encouragement for their teammates.

Each successful play sent teammates into a frenzy. And that sense of support, whether they won or lost, each player knowing that the team has her back, provides a strong sense of belonging and family.

Sophomore Captain Carly Petti has been a strong leader on the team. She scored a home run against West Geauga. She’s played softball most of her life, and she notes that no team is successful without trust.

“I’ve grown to love the game, and my teammates and coaches and I feel that the team this year is like a family, and I wouldn’t want to trade the experience for anything,” Petty said. “I’ve learned not everyone responds to the same leadership style, and we have had our ups and downs, but I’ve come to the understanding that making everyone feel comfortable and safe within a team is essential to success in softball.”

Freshman Aislin Keenan stays focused when she’s up to bat and has good speed around the bases. While she is new to Beachwood, she has enjoyed being a member of the team.

“I love my team. Everyone gets along and games, whether home or away, are extremely fun,” Keenan said.

Freshman Emily May is an aggressive player. She has played both softball and baseball for three years. She feels that the girls are like her second family.

“Softball gives me a sense of confidence in myself and my athletic abilities,” May said. “The team is more like a family than a group of girls and you come to trust and depend on each other. You come together to achieve a common goal.”

Even post-season, the girls still keep in touch and look forward to playing summer ball with each other.