Considering its vast past success over many years, lofty expectations are the case every season for the Bishop O’Connell Knights girls softball team.
Nothing will be different this spring, with the high-school squad coming off a perfect 23-0 season, owning a three-season 54-game winning streak and having won a combined 15 straight conference and private-school state-tournament championships.
Overall, O’Connell has won 28 state titles and 23 conference crowns in program history.
In addition, the Knights return some 11 players from last season, including seven starters.
The Knights open their season Wednesday, March 12 on the road at 4 p.m. against Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rival Elizabeth Seton. Their first home game is Tuesday, March 18 at 4 p.m. against Holy Cross.
“I know it’s extremely difficult to do what we’ve done in the past again,” first-year O’Connell head coach Tony Uccellini told ARLnow. “Our expectations are to try and win every game. But we don’t need to be perfect, though. It’s the hard work, determination and passion for the game that will drive us to where we want to be.”
One of O’Connell’s top performer is senior ace pitcher Bri Lencz, also a top hitter for the Knights. She was the winner in last season’s conference and state-tournament title games.
Lencz will be pitching to returning starting catcher Ari Clark. Lucy Hensler is a three-year returning starter.
Other returning starters are shortstop M.J. Melvin, infielders Abby Bond and Callie Lissenden , outfielder Emma Prykanowski and Ella Fletcher, along with Gigi Payne.
Sydney Miller, Ashley Bond, Sophie Midili, Marie Galiano, Annie Van Dyke, Lucy Jorjani and Gabrielle Morris also are on the squad.
One of O’Connell’s biggest non-conference games will be against the host McLean Highlanders on Monday, April 7 at 4 p.m. McLean is a perennial public-school power, and the teams try to schedule a game every season.
McLean has hosted every time the teams have met. O’Connell nipped McLean, 7-6, last season.
