The Knights gathered together in front of the dugout, on Wednesday, April 15, receiving final words of motivation and feedback from coaches and captains. In sync, the players reached their hands into the center of the huddle, shouted, “One, two, three, Knights,” and jogged to their respective positions in the field. Starting pitcher Jessica Yao (‘28) fired a first-pitch strike, setting the tone early for Bishop’s Girls’ Varsity Softball matchup against the Tri-City Christian Eagles. 

Jessica described the team’s approach to starting games hot, saying, “We always bring high energy. Even when you’re on the bench, I feel like you still play a big role by cheering on teammates.”

Co-captain and starting first baseman Sydney Mafong (‘26) explained the Knights’ goal for the season: dominate their league. “To win the league,” Sydney explained, “You pretty much have to win all your league games. So every single one is really important.”

Still, co-captain and third baseman Bella Bravo (‘26) noted that “a score can say a lot about a game, but at the same time, it doesn’t say everything. And so even if we end up losing today, how we get out there and how we work together as a team is what matters.”

Bishop’s entered the game with a 1-0 league record, coming off a 21-4 victory against Sante Fe Christian two days prior. 

Jessica kept that momentum on the mound, striking out the first batter as echoes of support rang out from across the field. 

But the Eagles responded quickly, stringing together two hits to put runners in scoring position on second and third base. Bishop’s answered with back-to-back outs at first base, shutting down the threat and preventing Tri-City from building an early lead. 

Jessica started off for the Knights with a shot to right-center field that dropped in for a double. Tri-City earned an out, but struggled at the mound, throwing a wild pitch allowing Jessica to steal third. Moments later, the pitcher hit Bailey Brightenburg (‘27), putting runners at the corners for the Knights. 

The home team capitalized, driving in both players, putting the Knights up 2-0 after the first inning. 

In the top of the second inning, Bishop’s dominated on defense, retiring the first three batters with solid infield play.

In the bottom of the same inning, the Knights put a runner in scoring position early. A miscommunication in the Tri-City infield after a deep hit by Noelani Lasua (’29) allowed the runner to score, which stretched the lead to three runs, though the Eagles still recorded an out at first. 

Back at the top of the order, Bishop’s took advantage as Jessica and Bella Bravo (‘26) reached second and third. Another Tri-City wild pitch enabled Jessica to steal home, igniting a roar from the Knights’ dugout. 

Before the inning concluded, Bailey knocked in another run, extending the Bishop’s lead to 5.  

The Eagles responded to the Bishop’s surge, putting runners on second and third with only one out. Tri-City seized the opportunity, producing a short hit that dropped in before the Knights could make the play, allowing the Eagles to bring home their first runs of the game. Though Bishop’s recorded the out at first base, Tri-City cut the home team’s lead to 5-2. 

The Knights secured the final out and returned to the plate. However, the team struggled to regain their offensive rhythm, managing just one hit before the inning ended. 

The fourth inning opened with a defensive reset at the pitcher’s mound where Sydney took over pitching duty. Tri-City returned to the field aggressively, earning themselves a grounder to left field and getting a runner to home, narrowing the gap to 5-3. 

After a series of strong pitches by Sydney, the Knights stepped up to the plate otherwise unscathed. Jessica stepped up first, backed by animated cheers from the Bishop’s bench. She immediately hit a grounder to first, but was tagged out just before her white New Balance cleats could brush the base. 

To the dismay of the bench, the rest of the hitting rotation met a similar fate through the inning, with Bella, Bailey, and Sydney’s bats all connecting with the bright yellow ball, but no one making the full journey around the bases. Ending 5-3, the Knights maintained high energy going into the fifth inning.

Tri-City executed an offensive crusade at the outset of the inning, achieving consistent hits and scoring two runs in quick succession, leveling the score to 5-5.

Where most teams would have collapsed, the Knights seemed to use the Eagles’ threat as fuel. With the bench cheering louder than ever, Nora Wiese (‘28) stepped up to the plate.

Nora savored the energy, explaining, “if our dugout is lively it helps so much.” The cheers were only interrupted by the crack of the bat, as a low hit to center field allowed Nora to reach first, commencing the Knights’ attacking onslaught. 

After a succession of strong hits, Nora arrived at home plate, bringing the lead back to Bishop’s. With a 6-5 scoreline, Jessica found herself with the bat in her hand and two runners on base. 

The opposing pitch blistered right into Jessica’s bat, sending the ball past second, and allowing for the two runners on base to sprint home, making the score 8-5. After a few wild pitches from the Eagles, Jessica made it to home herself, concluding the inning at 9-5. 

Despite another high-scoring Bishop’s inning, the Eagles refused to back down. Tri-City strung together two hits, putting runners in scoring position. Bishop’s recorded an out at first, and caught a pop fly in center field, but not before a runner tagged up from third to score a run. 

Tri-City built on their momentum, knocking in a run with a ball down the third base line. A subsequent low driven ball to the other side of the field allowed another run, putting the score at 9-8. 

Bishop’s stopped the rally, securing their final out at first base by fielding a ground ball. 

Sydney drew a walk on the Knights’ first at-bat, followed by a well-placed hit to right center field from Nora, setting up Bishop’s runners on first and third. Sophie Brunner (‘26) then lifted a ball to center field, allowing Sydney to score, putting the Knights up 10-8.

The Eagles managed to stay close, earning two quick outs and sending the game to the final inning. 

However, Bishop’s shut down Tri-City’s last scoring opportunity, as the Eagles went three up, three down, and the Knights emerged victorious.  

The team’s preparation was self-evident on the field. “We’ve been doing a lot of situational stuff… knowing where the runners are and what we’re going to do with the ball,” said second-baseman Nora. That focus translated into key defensive stops and timely offensive execution when it mattered most.

Beyond execution, Bishop’s exhibited the importance of playing together as a unit. “Softball is such a team sport,” Jessica added, “so everyone getting together and really talking to each other and just being friends, it makes it so much fun.”

As the Knights continue in their season, their sights are set high, and if they continue with performances like this one, they might just win it all.