At 9-3 and ranked No. 33 in the state, the Salina Central softball team is turning heads and doing it together.

“We are more of a family this year than we’ve ever been,” head coach Alyssa Waldron said. “Even the girls that are solely in the varsity dugout to help cheer on feel a part of the program. That’s really been the kicker for us this early in the season.”

The Mustangs opened their season with eight straight wins before taking their first loss in an 8-2 game against Andover Central on April 15.

However Waldron said the team was able to rebound.

“Andover Central had two talented pitchers, and they were strong offensively,” Waldron said. “But our group has already shown they know how to bounce back and keep moving forward.”

The next match Central went on to defeat them by a score of 5-3.

Freshman Charlotte Gordon, who leads the team with 14 runs scored, said the team’s mindset helped them recover from the loss.

“We started the first game strong, but then we stopped playing like ourselves,” Gordon said. “Coach Waldron tried to lift us up, but it was really our team that picked each other up. If someone got out, the next person would hit a double. We just kept feeding off each other.”

Gordon said the chemistry among the players has been a difference maker from the start of the season.

“Since the beginning, everyone’s gotten along really well,” Gordon said. “We’re all close, and we trust each other. That’s made it easy to have fun but also lock in when it’s time to work.”

Gordon also said she thanks her older teammates for setting the tone.

“I look up to Val a lot because she plays the same position and really knows the game,” Gordon said. “She’s always helping and making sure we stay focused.”

Coach Waldron said their teams’ success is due in part to their large underclassman size.

“We’ve got freshmen in left, right, second and third,” Waldron said. “And a sophomore at first, short and center. And they’re not just filling spots, they’re contributing at a high level.”

Senior Valerie VanZant, who leads the team with a .594 on-base percentage, said the energy around the team this year is different than in past seasons.

“Compared to past years, we’ve had a lot of drama and weren’t very good,” VanZant said. “This year, we show up wanting to play. We get to practice, and we have fun, but we also put in the work.”

VanZant said playing alongside the younger players has brought a new level of enjoyment to her senior season.

“They’re just a fun group to be around,” she said. “A lot of them haven’t played high school ball before, but they’ve adapted so well. It’s been exciting to play with them.”

Waldron said the team’s culture has shifted in a major way.

“As a coaching staff, we’ve emphasized human connection,” she said. “If a teammate says they don’t want to go to practice, instead of complaining, we ask them why. It’s about recognizing everyone’s feelings and building each other up.”

Offensively, junior Bailey Bruce leads the team with a .550 batting average, followed by VanZant at .500. Gordon’s speed and awareness on the basepaths have also been key in creating scoring opportunities.

Waldron said defensively, the team has stayed sharp and consistent.

“We’ve always been a defensive-minded team,” Waldron said. “Offense can be inconsistent in softball, but we make defense our standard.”

Waldron said they are ready to face off against big teams like Goddard on April 22.

“We’re more than talented enough to sweep them,” Waldron said. “But it’s a matter of rising to the occasion when people are watching. We want to see how we handle that.”

Waldron said her team is chasing more than just wins.

“We’re not trying to chase perfection,” she said. “We’re chasing connections… and when you have that, good things follow.”