The seniors on the Parkland softball team have put together a career record of 80-14 and are still looking to add a few more wins to that record as they battle through the District 11 Tournament and potentially a bid in the PIAA tournament.

In each of the last two seasons, Parkland has been crowned the conference champion and they're pursuing their second straight District 11 Championship.

Abby Fritzinger, Madison Marshall, Sam Pickar, Sidney Stibitz and Emma Varrato have all contributed to the success of the team at various times. This season, Marshall was named to the EPC All-Conference Team, giving her two straight appearances on the postseason award list and Pickar was named to the second team. Fritzinger was on last year's LVC All-Conference Team, while Stibitz received an honorable mention. Junior Taylor Knappenberger also received a spot on this year's second team.

Fritzinger has had the opportunity to not only be a team leader for younger teammates, but to be able to share some time on the roster with younger sister Aubree Frtizinger, who has made a mark for herself as Parkland's number-one pitcher this season.

The experience has been great for both sisters and has made Abby Fritzinger's senior season a special one.

"She has been great this season and it's been so much fun to get to play together and be a part of this team," said Abby Fritzinger. "Your senior season is something you'll always remember and it's been great to be able to spend the season with her and all of my teammates."

Catcher Sidney Stibitz got to catch Morgan Rentzheimer last season and has been behind the plate this season catching Aubree Fritzinger. The two are different pitchers, but both have had success.

"Morgan was more of a strikeout pitcher and this season, Aubree doesn't strike out as many, but she's just as hard to hit," said Stibitz. "They're both great pitchers and I've enjoyed working with both of them."

All of the seniors agreed that it's been easy to serve as team leaders this season because the younger players have been willing to put in a lot of hard work and are talented players in their own right.

"The young players have all been great," said Marshall. "We haven't had to be watching over them as much as just helping them and guiding them at times, because they've just been right there doing all of the work and have just jumped right in to be part of the team."

While the seniors realize that their time with the team is wearing thin, they still have a lot of work to do in their quest for a second straight district title.

Winning back-to-back conference titles was part of the goal for the team this season, but another district title would make for a special ending to a high school career.

"We're so focused and we all pick each other up as teammates on and off the field," said Varrato. "That's a big part of what I'll remember when I look back on this time."

A year ago, the talk was about how to replace players like Rentzheimer and Jordy Augustus. Now, the talk is about how to replace five players who have all contributed to being key players on a very good team that currently have a record of 22-1 on the season.

"There's still going to be a lot of good players on this team, because the younger players have done such a great job and they'll help other girls who join the team next year to get acclimated and help them to be better players," said Pickar. "I think the program is in great shape and it will be fun to see how they make their own mark."