The girls softball team took the field at the state tournament for the first time in ten years this afternoon. The team took on the defending state champions, Olathe East for the first round of the tournament, and lost 5-0.

The Huskies started out slow, only achieving one hit in the first half inning and allowing two runs by OE to cap it off. The team struggled with finding gaps on the offensive side the entire game, only three or four hits in seven innings. Head coach Kim White said the team has been hitting the ball all season, and though they hit hard today, they hit the ball directly toward opponents.

“We had two balls that we got doubled up on,” White said. “We’ve got a steal going and the batter pops the ball up so we get doubled out of an inning there. It really kills momentum. We didn’t have a lot of luck there.”

Senior Mackenzie Walker said the team played well together, although they were all nervous to play. However, Walker said the team came out with admirable intensity that they were unable to keep up.

“I’m just sad [the season’s] over,” Walker said. “I wish it would have lasted longer, but I’m glad we made it this far. This season as a whole has been amazing… we didn’t expect to get this far. In the last ten years we’ve been the best BVNW has had, so I’m really proud of this team.”

According to White, the senior leadership on the team has been phenomenal this past season. The team played for each other, and White said in her six years of head coaching at BVNW she has never seen a group of girls play more for the team instead of themselves individually. Every girl on the team sacrificed so much, White said, which is why it is hard for White to believe it is over.

“It’s really hard for me to put my emotions into words because these girls have just worked so hard all season,” White said. “We were one of the top eight teams in the state. It was a hell of a season. Without a doubt the best season I’ve had at BVNW. They wanted it, and they wanted it bad. They worked every single day to get better, they worked every single day for each other. High school kids just don’t do that anymore, and I think it’s important that they realize that the coaching staff appreciates their hard work and their effort. I just want the girls to know how proud I am of their attitudes, their efforts, and their selflessness all season. It’s been an awesome ride.”