“Our coaches always tell us if you’re not right mentally, you’re not right at all,” shortstop, Makenna Anderson (9) said.

The lose streak that softball battled with at the beginning of the season was put to an end when they realized just how important mental preparation was through the help of their coaches.

“Us coaches reminded every player of our goal to make it to playoffs after every game,” head coach, Waylon Whitney said. “We don’t ever want the players to get down about losing, leave it on the field and come back the next day ready to change what went wrong.”

The coaches understand that losing isn’t fun, but want the athletes to remember that wins will come with time.

“For being a new program and trying to build a foundation here at Heritage, our players are doing amazing,” assistant coach, Lindsay Fallen said. “The victories will come and I will never be disappointed in one of my athletes unless they give up and walk off the field.”

The players themselves, with advice from their coaches have played the biggest role in their journey to playoffs.

“Not only are we the ones playing in the games, but we have had to keep each other going,” catcher, Rachael Gray (10) said. “A team that doesn’t have chemistry and isn’t bonded can never expect to be successful.”

Anderson and the rest of the team found their key to success.

“They helped us find our focus and with that focus, our goal to make it to playoffs became real.”