If one were to count Liberty softball’s wins and losses this season, it would look less than promising on paper, but head coach Sam Carrodo feels otherwise.

“This year is all about gaining confidence, experience, and not losing their confidence over the losses we’ve been accruing, and it’s our job as coaches to keep them confident and positive and learn and grow as a family and as a team,” Coach Carrodo said. “The kids are young, but they have such talent, and you saw flashes of it at the end of the game today, the catches that were made, the hitting that’s starting to happen. If we could tie it all together in one game, we’re gonna’ do good things. That’s why I’m not worried about wins and losses this year.”

On Saturday, the Hurricanes lost to Nazareth, 5-2, at Liberty, but even while trailing by three runs, Liberty pitcher Hailey Pyle smacked a double to center field in the sixth inning, and outfielder Molly Devers made a diving catch in the seventh.

“The girls are starting to come together. I’ve been saying this the whole year- it’s going to be a learning process for these kids this year, and this is not complaining, but because of the COVID restrictions, we weren’t allowed to practice until the first day of try outs, so we’re way, way, way behind. Now we’re playing back-to-back-to-back and only getting one day of practice a week,” said Carrodo.

This week, the Hurricanes will have played four games in five days. Practice will be a luxury, if they get one, depending on weather, game rescheduling, or the coronavirus that continues to disrupt lives on and off the field.

Liberty’s softball roster includes one senior, Elizabeth Powers, among five juniors, six sophomores, and six freshmen. One of Liberty’s pitchers is a sophomore, Mya Williams, and the other is a freshman, Pyle.

Last year’s senior-based (13) Hurricane team that never had a season now belongs to city rival Freedom, who have a solid group of senior leaders this year. Again, not excuses, but solid reasons for Liberty’s current struggles. And with the struggles, there is determination and expectancy for progress now, regardless of the Hurricanes’ win-loss record.

“The flashes of softball athleticism that they’re showing will pay off tenfold as long as we keep them believing in themselves,” Carrodo said. “That’s what we’re working for right now.”