On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Rancho Cucamonga High School girls softball team defeated Claremont High School 8-3 in the first game of the season. The Rancho girls won the game with a score of 8-3. JV also defeated Claremont High with a score of 20-0. 

Last season, the girls had a season record of 13-14 and were fourth in the League. This season, they said they are hoping to be first in the Baseline League and improve on their goals. 

Junior Racine McDermott said she is very excited about the competitive games and being with her teammates.

“What I’m excited about is the competitive games, the bus rides, and just being on the field with the girls,” said McDermott. 

McDermott got inspired to play softball by her dad and started playing softball when she was five years old. She has been playing for 12 years. 

On Monday, Feb. 24, the Cougars had their second game of the season against Summit High School for the Etiwanda Tournament and won 5-4. 

Their last games of the Etiwanda Tournament were on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and Wednesday, Feb. 26. In game number two of the tournament, the RCHS girls dominated Kaiser High School 11-1. In game number three of the Etiwanda Tournament against King High School, the Cougars won 11-0.

Sophomore Lizzy Brown said she hopes to achieve her new goals for this season and get faster than last season. She has been doing a lot of training during the off season. 

“My goals are to get quicker behind the plate and improve my batting average from last season,” Brown said. 

Brown has been playing softball for seven years and decided to start playing when she was younger because her mom put her in baseball and Brown had such a passion for it. 

The girls said they hope to win their League games against Upland High School and Los Osos High school later in the season.