Although the High School Softball team lost multiple starters to grad-uation last year, they still had high hopes for this year’s spring season.

In a plan to build competence within a relatively young team, coaches and players decided to pair experienced upperclassmen, with younger players who demonstrated potential.

Under the direction of Head Coach Nicole Gwinnett, and this year’s captains, Cassy Rubinsky, Emma Carson, and Ally Gruber, The Lady Highlanders aimed to give it their all and leave everything on the diamond.

The girls had a strong start, winning three of their first four games. They beat Clifton 13-3, Passaic 17-0, and Wayne Hills 10-1, but lost to Fair Lawn 11-1.

After those first four games, the Lady High-landers struggled, winning only two of their last fifteen games to end the year.

The ladies did have several close games, but they struggled to get over the hump in most of them, despite their valiant effort.

The team had their senior night April 30 in a rematch against Wayne Hills. Despite their best efforts, including a home run by Cassy Rubinsky, the Lady Highlanders lost by a score of 12-6.

The team did make it into the NJSIAA State Tournament, facing up against number one seed Ramsey. The Lady Highlanders lost by a score of 10-0, ending their season.

Senior Cassy Rubinsky and freshman Bella Kling had a strong year batting.

Rubinsky hit three home runs and drove in ten runs while having a .391 batting average and a .674 slugging percentage, and also walked eleven times.

Kling had a .317 batting average with a .463 slugging percentage. Kling also hit a home run, had fifteen RBIs, and walked seven times.

Freshman pitcher Ari-ana Canipe had the lowest earned run average average on the team at 2.86.

She struck out twelve and walked seven in 14.2 innings pitched.

Canipe’s innings were second highest to junior Kaitlyn Clarke’s 71.2.

Clarke pitched nearly 70% of the time for the Lady Highlanders, struck out 45, walked 30, and had an ERA of 6.06.