ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are program rebuilds. But for head coach Racheal Stump and Bishop LeBlond softball, that rebuild was accelerated last year.
“We decided last year that we call it ‘that one time,’ and we don’t talk about it,” Stump said of her first year as head coach.
The year being referred to is 2024, when the Golden Eagles went 1-19. It was Stump’s first season as head coach, and the improvement she saw in year two was astronomical. The group completely flipped its season around and went 10-11, making the district championship game and losing to a Stanberry team that placed third in state the season before.
“Last year it was just more for fun, we didn’t really care about winning,” senior Avery Ransom said. “We were all together, we were having fun and we got that far and we were pretty excited about it. When we lost it was pretty upsetting.”
With a few returning stars, Bishop LeBlond looks to spend another year improving. What the Golden Eagles are looking to find this year is what they’ve looked for in seasons past: pitching. The group had the recently graduated Marah Rocha step into the role last year but will look to place a freshman at the front of the rotation this season.
“We have a freshman who is going to step into that role and possibly a junior,” Stump said.
The district championship game last year was a heartbreaker, but as long as sophomore Brynna Miller is on the roster, there’s always a chance to get back.
“I look for the same approach, obviously I want to progress from last year,” Miller said. “I feel like I had a good season last year but I’m just coming in with the same mindset and hopefully do as good as I did last year.”
A good season is an understatement for Miller. The sophomore was named to the All-State team as a freshman last year and led the Golden Eagles throughout the season. She plays for one of the top travel teams in the state and has spent her summer competing at the national level.
“It felt good,” Miller said of the honor. “I was really happy with myself and I’m just hoping to continue that this year.”
With only nine players on the team, the question surrounding Stump and her players will be injuries and depth. Bishop LeBlond has the talent to compete and have a successful season, but one injury could derail it. The situation is the same one the seniors found themselves in as freshmen.
“(My) freshman year we only had nine,” senior Presley Miljavic said. “So we’re kind of already used to that, at least me and Haven (Wright) are. But I think it will be a good season despite that.”
Despite the shortage of pitching and players, the Golden Eagles have already shown they can handle adversity. After turning a one-win season into a district championship appearance in just one year, Bishop LeBlond enters this season looking to take another step forward and continue a rebuild that has moved faster than anyone could have anticipated.
“Make it to the district championship that’s a goal there,” Stump said as she read off her players’ goals. “Make it to district championship, so I’d say, yeah, they want to go back.”