When the score was tied 2-2 after the third inning on Tuesday, April 15, varsity softball knew they would have a tough game ahead. The team struggled both offensively and defensively throughout the remainder of the game, but ultimately lost to San Mateo High School 10-2.

Despite the loss, sophomore left fielder Maddy Koo had an impressive game, scoring the Panthers’ only two runs, stealing four bases, and recording two putouts while fielding. Although the team brought energy and effort in the first innings, Koo said that falling behind in the last few innings got into the players’ heads, believing there is room for improvement.

“It wasn’t our best game. Obviously, we can do better, but it’s the beginning of the season, so we’re trying to figure out where everybody can play and where everybody fits in. We’re still coming together,” Koo said.

Sophomore pitcher Kiley Lyons also had a notable game, throwing 68 pitches — just one short of her season high of 69 set against Carlmont High School on March 18. According to head coach Albert DelRosso, Lyons’ performance has played a key role in helping the team.

“Kiley Lyons is doing a phenomenal job again on the mound. Our pitching has been really good, they’ve showed up,” DelRosso said. “Pitchers just continue to excel, but we’re relying on that too much, and we need to try to get some runs across the board.”

Despite having standout players, DelRosso said the team relies too much on defense and mainly needs to improve its offense to succeed in future games.

“We had a couple key errors late in the game that really put us in a hole. Our offense just isn’t made right now to score four or five runs in an inning to get us back in it. We’re capable of scoring one or two an inning, but once we get past that it’s very difficult for us to get runners across,” DelRosso said.

As the season continues, DelRosso said the team will continue to grow, build chemistry, and find their rhythm on the field.

“It’s about where we’ve been the last couple games, we’ve been slowly getting better. I’ve seen signs of growth and improvement,” DelRosso said. “We’re getting into the fourth and fifth innings, and just seemingly one or two bad plays ends up tossing us a couple runs, and then from there, we just don’t have enough to get back in it.”

In hindsight, the team struggled in the later innings because — according to Koo — they began to give up. Had they stayed focused until the end, their performance would likely have been stronger.

“[As a whole we] could be better. I think we’re still improving,” Koo said. “It’s only the beginning, we have time to make it up.”