St. Patrick Softball Preview: Lady Irish looking to regain championship form

Also hopeful for a return trip to the winner’s circle is the St. Patrick softball team. After wearing the 3A state crown from 2012 to 2014, the Lady Irish are now in the midst of a two year drought without it. According to the players, their 2017 post-season run could be the one to change all that, proving the non-believers wrong in the process.
Center fielder Raylen Blackwell said, “It would mean a lot because a lot of people have been doubting us, saying that we’ve gone down. But I want to prove them wrong, like we’re as good as we’ve been. Like, we’re peaking. We’re at the highest point, and we’re going strong.”
Seven straight district titles for the Lady Irish, but no hardware to show for it the last two years. So, now they have a little perspective to go along with their championship pedigree. Shortstop Morgan McCrea said, “I mean we know what it feels like to win, but we know what it feels like to lose, too. And I think we all want it bad enough to not have that feeling again.”
“It’s there. Like, you just feel it and you just know that you can get it done. And especially with the team we have this year, we’re all together. Like, we have the chemistry to do it. And we just, it’s there,” said Blackwell.
St. Patrick also has the talent to get it done, having outscored region 8 opponents 121-3 this season. Not to mention the team is on a current streak of 51 consecutive wins over district adversaries. “Oh, we want it bad.”
Right fielder Marissa Hanley said, “I think you feel it more than you see it, but as a team I think we’re really good together. And I think that’s really important is the chemistry that we have with each other to work together well.”
“There’s a fire under us that we have to keep going. Like when you look at someone and you see them with that fire in their eyes, it just pushes you to do better.”
Another driving force in St. Patrick’s run at redemption is the motto “win as one.” Something the Lady Irish have taken to heart as they get ready to take another shot at immortality. “I mean, it would be awesome. Winning state is a pretty great feeling, so I hope we can do it again,” said McCrea.
“Oh, that would mean the world. Like, it’s been under our fingertips these past two years, and that would just be so great to get another win,” said Blackwell.
Coming off a first round bye, the Lady Irish travel to Franklin County for game one of the best of three tomorrow at 6 p.m.