The Student Newspaper of Highline College

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Highline’s 2025 softball team.

Highline’s softball team struggles amid a challenging season

Nicolas CardenasStaff Reporter Apr 17, 2025

The 2024-25 softball season has been challenging for Highline, marked by a string of losses, tough opponents, and constant weather delays. From the first pitch in February to their final game in early April, the team struggled to find their rhythm, finishing with a 2-19 record overall and 2-11 in the conference.

Things started rough with an opening-day loss to Grays Harbor, followed by a rained-out game. As the season progressed, the team faced stiff competition in both non-conference and league play. Despite some promising flashes, such as their back-to-back wins against Shoreline on March 12, the T-Birds couldn’t maintain the momentum. What followed was a tough 12-game losing streak, with several games ending prematurely due to the mercy rule.

The weather also proved to be an opponent. Several games were postponed or canceled entirely due to rain, disrupting the team’s rhythm and adding further uncertainty to an already difficult season. By early April, Highline hadn’t won a game since mid-March.

Their most recent performance against Shoreline, on April 6, highlighted the ongoing challenges. While standouts like Kayanna Shaw and Hannah Cox showed grit at the plate—with Shaw going 3-for-3 and Cox collecting a double and a stolen base—the team was outmatched from the start, falling 21-6 in five innings. The pitching rotation allowed 17 hits and 21 runs, while defensive errors increased the pressure.

Attempts were made to obtain input from the players and coaching staff to better understand the team’s experience this season. However, despite multiple attempts, neither the head coach nor any of the players responded to interview requests.

With only a few games left on the schedule, it remains to be seen whether Highline can turn things around or at least finish on a positive note. Regardless of the final results, the season is a testament to perseverance under pressure, even when wins are hard to come by.