By Carter Sampson

Nobody expected our softball team to be successful. Well, nobody even expected Tempe Prep to field a softball team. But thanks to unexpected people stepping up, TPA softball is not only surviving, but thriving. Coach Lane Waddell stepped in as coach, and the 10 players have worked hard to be a competitive team.

The highlight of the season so far was definitely the team’s victory against Alchesay High School. After a back-and-forth game, the Knights entered the final inning down by two. TPA started a rally that filled up the bases, and Freshman Alexis Massie hit an inside-the-park homer to win the game. You read that right, the Knights won a game off a walk-off home run!

With several players new to the game, TPA is at a disadvantage to the other, more experienced teams. However, the newcomers are quickly adapting to the sport, thanks to the help of their teammates and coaches. One of these rookies, Maria Zello, says, “They help me understand the rules and what I should do once the ball is put in play. If it wasn’t for the coaches and my team, I would have quit after the first week.”

The Knights are led by Seniors Celeste Muniz, Cat Coriell, and Clare Waddell. These upperclassmen brought the team to a 2-2 record in the Chandler Prep/Salt River tournament. In that tournament, the team’s hard work paid off with wins against Alchesay and AZ College Prep.

Visit tpasoftball.com to see pictures of games, and to view the upcoming schedule. Come out to support the Lady Knights as they continue to make huge strides!