The Alliance High softball team ended their season on October 6 during District competition in Kearney where the Bulldogs lost to Cozad 15-3 to finish their season with a 3-21 record.

“I thought we made a lot of progress from the beginning of the season to the end of the season,” said Head Coach Tom Swanson. “Certainly we would have liked to put a few more wins under our belt, but I thought this season was another step toward building a successful program.”

This year, the Bulldog softball team had thirty-six players total; twenty-three more players than were out for softball in 2007, Swanson’s first year coaching. “It’s a total change in circumstances and its great to get this many people participating in our program,” Swanson said.

This season consistency was a skill that Swanson emphasized. “Our most successful and consistent players were a couple of our seniors. Senior Lili Gomez, at catcher, was a mainstay in our lineup and in the batting order. Also senior Cali Cox pitched most of the season for us and was definitely important to whatever success we did have…”

“Although the outcome of the season wasn’t what we had hoped for, the team improved immensely,” said Cox. “The drive and the passion everyone showed for the sport was incredible, which made this season unforgettable.”

Another player mentioned by Swanson was senior Whitney Wills, the Bulldog short-stop. “We improved from the beginning to the end. Sometimes it’s not all about winning, but having fun, and we can all agree that we had a blast this season”

“I’m excited about see the program continue to develop,” said Swanson about next seasons outlook. “If we can capitalize on the interest we’ve had and the number of players we’ve had and work toward playing more consistently we’ll be headed in the right direction.” Senior Bulldog out-fielder Molly McGehehy added, “The program has potential. Hopefully the returning players can do their best next season.”