With fourth place secured via a 4-6 district record, the softball team [19-11 overall] will be advancing to playoffs to take on district 6-5A champion Hurst LD Bell [25-5 overall] in a best-of-three game series beginning Friday.

The Farmers have not been to the playoffs since 2007. Head coach Lori Alexander attributes this year’s success to team confidence.

“The girls have finally realized how good they can be; the unity is there,” Alexander said. “They’re playing so much better together, and that is huge.”

Alexander also mentioned that scoring runs, playing solid defense and good pitching are the key components to success and are exactly what the team needs in the postseason.

“They will need to carry this over into the playoffs in hopes of winning state,” Alexander said.

With starting pitcher freshman Maribeth Gorsuch [16-4] injured with torn cartilage in her ribs, senior Chloe Campise [3-4] will be filling in for her teammate.

“I have started the past three years, so being able to start again and play in this position wasn’t too hard,” Campise said. “Being able to take my team where we want to go is all that matters now.”

The Farmers will take on the Lady Raiders, who finished district play with a 14-0 record, Friday at LD Bell at 7 p.m. for game one. Game two will be held Saturday at Killough at 1 p.m. The third, if needed, will be held Monday at Flower Mound High School at 7 p.m.

“I’m looking forward to playing L.D. Bell and also the team playing in our first playoff game since [2007],” senior shortstop Selena Garcia said. “We have what it takes to be out there. I’m ready for the team to show it.”

Fans who cannot attend the games in person can follow the team via @FARMERSsoftball on Twitter, which is updated throughout the game.