NEW HOPE — The Trojan softball team continued its tear through district play last week, sweeping Pontotoc home and away to extend their winning streak to 13 games. 

Since March 10, the Trojans, 18-6, have won every game while scoring eight or more runs in eight games and registering three shutouts. 

Head coach Casey Finch Halford has seen her group navigate a difficult schedule, one which she set up with difficulty in mind, and the experience is paying dividends. 

“They’ve really gotten their chemistry flowing,” she said of her team. “They’re going to the plate with good approaches in a good headspace, looking for one thing early and looking to put the ball in play. They’ve matured a lot as they’ve progressed this year.”

Sophomore Kaselyn Harcrow has put in several ace performances for the Trojans this year, boasting a 14-2 record. She struck out 19 batters in the two wins over Pontotoc last week while showcasing a diverse range of skills from the circle. 

“She’s doing a really good job,” Halford said of her ace. “She works hard with spin and location and gets a lot of pop-ups and ground balls we can make plays on. She’s not a predictable pitcher, she’s very focused on making sure her throws are at an effective speed.”

The defensive prowess is down to more than just strikeouts. The pitching is one thing, but the team effort to make plays and hold onto leads is what has pushed the Trojans forward. Halford sees the evolution of her team and credits the mental growth for the Trojans locking in over the course of their winning streak. 

“I think they’re in a different headspace this year. They’re mentally locked in,” she said. “It’s an ‘us’ mentality instead of a ‘me’ mentality, and they do whatever needs to be done for the best of the team. Whatever the play is, the defense is hungry to make a play for their pitches. They make a lot of diving catches, we robbed a home run last week, and they’ve done a great job and it’s exciting to watch them rise up to make sure we’re in the best position we can be.”

Next up for the team is a meeting with Lafayette for the district crown. The Commodores, 18-5, swept the Trojans in the regular season and playoffs last year as the top playoff seed. Both teams have had impressive campaigns again and their meeting this week will decide the Class 5A Region 1 champion.

The Trojans have grown since the last meeting between the teams. It’s a difficult test to end the regular season, but one which Halford planned for. She designed the team’s schedule to test her players and show them they can hang with anyone in the state. It’s helped the team grow and helped put them in a position to win their district. 

“My approach to scheduling is never about the record,” she said. “It’s not about me, it’s about these kids and giving them the chance to know they can play on any field with anybody. They knew coming in that they had their work cut out for them early, and knew that if they stayed the course it would help them grow. It puts them in a place where they are confident going into big matchups, and even if they are down, they find a way to come back and finish.”