The softball team hopes to slide right into the season, Feb. 1 in a scrimmage against Lakeview Centennial.

This will be the last season for the two seniors, Ashlie Sullivan and Morgan Shaulis, will attend Tarleton State University this fall and will be the first seniors to graduate from the softball team.

“The two seniors have a special place in my heart!” varsity coach Sharyn Vernon said. “It will be sad to see them go, but exciting for them as they begin the next chapter of their lives.”

The team’s make up of players is almost the same as last year, only losing a few people from the previous season. Working on picking up where they left off and building from last year, the players have high hopes for this season.

“The team has improved tremendously, and our intensity grows with each practice,” junior first basemen Kara Moore said.

Some new additions have been added to the team as well. Freshman second basemen Kendall Dulaney, freshman pitcher Tara O’neill, and freshmen right fielder Halie Daniels bring their skills from past years of play.

 “The new players on the team not only bring great skill and fundamentals, but also new and fresh personalities and dynamics,” Kara Moore said.

The team still faces many of the same teams from last year, but the district has changed and some of their opponent’s skill is a mystery.

“I think that the two toughest teams in district will be either Lovejoy or Royse City,” junior right fielder and Kara’s twin sister, Corrie Moore said. “I think we can beat them though, we’ll just have to work hard and focus on the game.”

The softball team has grown, new talent was added to the team, and the level of play has increased. Through all of this, the players have grown increasingly close and are like one big family.

“My favorite part is making the new, fun memories that this season will bring,” Corrie said.