The Olympia Softball team is off to a 17–and–1 start, and unlike last year, the Spartans are thriving on senior moments.

When Olympia lost to Tri–Valley in last years Regional final it was the end of the Spartans season but with no graduating seniors it was also a learning experience.

"That game they got in our heads, and if we would have had any actual leadership on that team, we could have stopped it the first inning whenever they scored on us," said Olympia senior 3B Katie Peek.

Besides the leadership last year's team was lacking another important intangible.

"When you’re a senior, when it’s over it’s over," said Olympia softball coach Al Toliver. "You’re done, but when you’re a junior you’ve got next year to look forward to so there wasn’t the sense of urgency."

"Before I’d be like there’s always next year but there’s not next year, so I really have a drive to make it all the way and want to motivate everyone else to be like that," said Peek.

"It makes us want to strive to do good for them," said junior rightfielder Kara Usherwood. "Because this is their last year, we want to have a good year for them as well, so we kind of want to push it."

The Spartans have also hit the ball much better this year. The team's average is up a full hundred points and that along with a sense of urgency from the seniors can send Olympia back to state.

"I’m seeing a lot more intensity during game time," said Toliver. " I’m seeing a lot more better at-bats when we have two outs. We’re getting a lot more two out RBIs. So I’m seeing some of those things you really like to see."
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