The Parkland softball team knows a lot about postseason success.

A year ago, the Trojans went on an incredible playoff run, capturing Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, District 11 and state championships.

But of all the lessons learned from that memorable experience, the most important might be to forget that experience - at least most of it.

“We really don’t talk about last year,” said star pitcher Aubree Fritzinger, a key contributor to the championship run. “We have four or five starters back from that team, but we also have a lot of new faces.

“I think that postseason experience we had helps us going into the playoffs this year, but it’s not something that anyone brings up or talks about duplicating. We’re approaching it as a new team, a new season, and a new opportunity.”

Fritzinger definitely made the most of that new opportunity on Monday when Parkland opened the 2016 postseason with a 5-0 victory over Easton in the EPC quarterfinals. Fritzinger was masterful with her location as she constantly prevented Easton from making solid contact. Although she struck out just one batter, Fritzinger was in total control, allowing just two infield singles and one walk in seven innings.

It’s the type of performance that could bode well for the Trojans as playoff softball takes center stage over the next few weeks.

“We always talk about the second season and that’s where we are right now,” said Fritzinger. “We’ve been playing our best ball of the season the last couple of weeks and that’s what you want.

“Everyone has worked extremely hard to put ourselves in position to be successful. This is an exciting time and we’re looking forward it.”

Veteran Parkland coach Barry Search, who has been a part of the Trojan program for almost three decades, including the last six years as head coach, agrees with Fritzinger.

“We are playing well right now,” said Search. “We lost some games early in the season, but I think we are peaking at the right time.

“The last few weeks we have played well in all facets of the game.”

The Trojans entered Wednesday’s game against EPC top-seed Whitehall on a seven-game winning streak and with a 16-3 overall record.

Search is happy that he has several players on this year’s team who enjoyed tremendous postseason success a year ago. He is thrilled that this year’s team entered the playoffs on a nice roll.

But he also knows that what they did last year, or even last week, won’t help them win their next game.

“We don’t talk about last year’s championships,” he said, echoing Fritzinger’s remarks. “The kids understand our philosophy. We don’t want to be looking back and we don’t want to be looking too far ahead.

“Our goal is always the next game. We’re not talking about league championships or district championships or state championships. We want to be focused on winning our next game. That’s it.”

It’s a philosophy that worked well for Parkland in 2015.

It’s also one that Search is confident can work again.

“I think setting simple, realistic goals works best,” said Search. “It keeps the girls locked in on the present and what they need to do.”

And if the Trojans can keep taking care of the present, their near future just might match their recent past.