Bradley Downes entered his first season as Xavier Prep coach and saw it as a “fresh beginning” for everyone. Mission accomplished. Following a 4-16 season, the Gators matched their win total five games into the season, and finished 15-3 overall, in large part because of two freshmen standouts.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” Riley Flynn said. “Just freshmen just coming in trying to have fun.”

Flynn recorded all 15 of her team’s wins while posting an ERA of 1.69, along with 125 strikeouts, ranking in the top two in her league.

“We didn’t really know about Riley, but she’s done nothing but step up,” Deryck Sexton said. “She’s been phenomenal for us.”

Flynn may have flown under the radar, but Bridget Donahey was someone the coaching staff saw brimming with potential from the onset. Donahey comes from a family of softballers, including two older sisters. One, Katie, is a junior on the team.

While Flynn has dominated on the rubber, it is Donahey who has crushed at the plate. She leads the league with a .587 batting average and places in the top three for home runs and runs batted in.

Donahey said, “We came into the season with the mentality of ‘we have nothing to lose.’”

The performances from the two freshmen revitalized the team and brought the team closer despite. The younger girls said the older girls have been supportive and helpful.

“They’re freshmen, but they don’t play like it,” Katie said.

“They’re all team players, they’re happy that the freshmen are in there, and that we’re winning,” Flynn said. “No matter where they are if they’re playing or not, they’re constantly cheering.”

The girls have created a tight bond on the team and resulted in more fun. Prior to the start of the season, the team decided that every letter in the word “Gator” would stand for something and for the letter “r” they decided on “real fun.”

“We try to find that balance between working hard and having fun,” Downes said.

Sexton described the two freshmen as “goofs” who love to have fun and bring positive energy.

“I think they [upperclassmen] have learned to have fun,” Sexton said.” They [Flynn and Donahey] lighten the mood for everybody, especially on times when we can be tough on them.”

Entering the season Downes wanted everyone to be on an even playing field. Downes believes its translated on the field with superb team chemistry and consistent excellence. It’s made them closer, more like family than friends

“We struggled a little bit to try to click, but in the end it was instant and not hard at all,” Analisa Roman said. “We unite as women, everybody on this team is a leader whether they know it or not.”

The upperclassmen show them the ropes, but Flynn and Donahey have helped the veterans as well with their competition.

“It has been so much fun getting to play with her again, it’s fun to compete with her,” Katie said. “They brought a lot of competition between the team, but it’s friendly and fun, it’s good for the team.”

Roman believes this one of the most fun teams she has been part of. Roman admires the plucky attitude of the girls. How they compose and handle themselves has helped her evolve into a better player and person.

“I’ve never had such a great group of girls, we help teach each other and build each other,” Roman said. “Seeing them and watching them grow motivates me more to want to push them to become who they really are.”

She added, “I think they’ve personally taught me to be a leader and also how to be competitive with one another.”

It is their personality and infectious charm that has brought the softball team closer.

Downes’ memo to his players before the season was one word: Better. They find themselves in the playoffs for the first time in three years with a chance to turn some heads this spring.