With a 16-4 loss against Westwood Regional High School behind them, the goal of the Maroon Raiders is to continue working hard and growing together as a team.

Coach Shannon McGowan said having different levels of players on the same team has its issues.

"We have a couple juniors, we have a lot of freshmen – a lot of underclassmen – so it’s asking a lot from them to step up to the varsity level," she said.

Stepping up doesn’t seem to be the problem for this group of girls, but rather the consistency of their skills, says catcher Brielle Klein.

"We’re a young team so we’re always going to have our ups and downs," she said. "We’re doing everything, but we’re not doing it consistently."

The Maroon Raiders started the game strong, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Lindsay Maclin slammed a double and Ximena Sarria and Bianca Knight each had a single.

In the top of the second inning Nada Kittaneh took over the pitching duties after Westwood jumped out to an 8-3 lead.

Kittaneh said she could have put more heart into the game but her focus is on learning to throw a new pitch.

"I want to try another pitch because I realize by the fourth or fifth inning they start hitting more off of me," she said. "Maybe if I learn something else they won’t be able to."

In the bottom of the third, Klein smacked a triple to right center. She said she had an off day in their previous game and came to this one determined, focused and confident.

"My goal was to be confident up there, not worry about anything else but hitting the ball," she said. "That’s what I did."

McGowan said the girls have shown improvement and are coming out, giving 100 percent and learning in the process.

"With more experience playing together they’ll start to mold as a team," she said. "The pitchers are working their hearts out and the girls are hitting the ball.

"I just think that it needs to gel a little bit more, and over time that will happen."