The Terrace softball team had yet another tremendous season as it continued its tradition of little noticed excellence.
The team snagged the last spot from the Wesco South conference for the District 1 playoffs with an 11-9 record, extending its streak of playoff appearances to a staggering 16th consecutive season.
No other Terrace team, including the men’s basketball team, has a mark even close to that.
The record didn’t accurately reflect the competitiveness of the team; they ended up losing five games by just two runs or less.
Co-captain and the Everett Herald’s “all-area” junior, Maddy Kristjanson spoke about the regular season saying, “We were just missing that one crucial hit or out in those games.”
Being the last team in meant that the Hawks had to face the top team from the North: Marysville-Pilchuck.
The Hawks were not intimidated, but determined.
“Everyone anticipated us to be two and done,” said the other co-captain, Rene Bos, senior. “We wanted to prove them wrong.”
And the Hawks did just that. The team dismantled Pilchuck 6-4 and then defeated Shorecrest 4-0 to qualify for the state softball tournament.
“It was amazing.” exclaimed Bos regarding qualifying for state.
“Our hitting just came alive,” said Kristjanson. “As a team we hit nine home runs in [the state tournament].”
The softball team went on to get seventh in the 3A state tournament, falling to the Bainbridge Spartans and eventual second place Prairie and beating Bonney Lake and Enumclaw.
Both Bos and Kristjanson described the team as “energetic, loving and determined.”
“We had great team chemistry,” said Kristjanson.
All these factors added up to make a historic team that none of them will forget.