As the team achieved outs near the end of the semifinal game of the state tournament on Friday, May 24, junior second baseman Abby Ford tried to keep the state championship game out of her mind.

“I tried hard not to think about getting to the championship, although that was very hard,” Ford said. “We all just kept telling ourselves to focus on one game at a time.”

The players’ dreams of becoming state champions became more realistic after they defeated Goddard High School 5-2 in the semifinal game.

Senior shortstop Kelli Spring said the atmosphere after winning the semifinal game was positive.

“After we won the semifinals everyone was so happy,” Spring said. “The parents were into the game just as much as us and they were supportive. It was such a great experience.”

An hour later, the team faced Bishop Carroll High School in the championship game. Carroll scored two runs in the first inning and ended up winning, 5-0. The second-place finish was the highest in the softball program’s history and capped a 19-5-1 season which included a league title.

“We were definitely the underdog but we competed and came up just short of being the first Mill Valley team to bring home the title,” Spring said. “It feels great knowing that we made history and that our team will be remembered.”

When looking back on the season, senior third baseman Taylor Brunson said successs at the state level ended her senior year well.

“Finishing second at state my senior year was amazing. In all my four years we had never won a first round game, so to get second was a huge accomplishment,” Brunson said. “It feels good to know this is the best Mill Valley softball has ever done and I’m glad that I could be a part of it.”