Ballard softball comes into the 2023 season on a 39-game winning streak
By Dyuce Woodson
March 20, 2023— The last time the Ballard High School Bruins softball team lost a game during the regular season was May 8, 2021, a 1-0 loss to Greenwood.
Since then, the Bruins have won 54 of the last 55 games (the final loss coming in the state championship tournament).
When senior infielder Imari Golden was asked if she remembers that loss, she admitted she hasn't fully gotten over it.
"It still kind of haunts, but we got our redemption," she said.
The Bruins are coming in to the seaason winners of 39 straight games, the reigning state champs, and one of three teams in KHSAA history to have an undefeated season.
Although they're seven wins shy of tying the record set by Greenwood spanning the 2013 and 2014 seasons, there's a bit of a loose feeling while playing.
"I feel like in practice, we're not really worried about losing anymore," Ballard senior pitcher Brooke Gray said. "We're not worried about the winning streak. We're worried about just getting back to state. Like [head coach] Alan [Jones] says, we could go 15-15. I don't really care as long as we make it back there."
Part of that confidence comes from all but one player from last year's team returning, including three who are currently signed to play college softball.
The three are Imari Golden (Walters State Community College), Brooke Gray (University of Louisville), and Emory Donaldson (University of Kentucky).
"Top to bottom, our lineup has produced," Donaldson said. "Especially in close games, we've had the bottom of the lineup come up big when the top of the lineup is struggling. Sometimes all around everyone's got a hit, and defense has stayed solid throughout the year."
While being on such a loaded squad with championship experience is exciting, the Bruins know there's a lot of pressure to repeat.
"It's definitely very nice having the comfort of knowing that we can definitely get back there again," Gray said. "But then again, it also gives us kind of a huge target on our back. It's like every game for any other team is like their championship game."
But the team is ready to chase history while, most importantly, winning another ring.
"I really want to win another state championship," Golden said.