The Mount Mercy Softball Team ended its season with an overall record of 7-6 and a league record of 4-2.  Many of the team's non-league losses came against some of the top schools in Western New York.  Expectations were high as the season began as nine players from last year's team that won the regular season championship and fell in the playoff finals returned to the diamond for the Magic in 2018. 

"Our season did not meet our expectations. Our goal this year was to win the Championship and move on to states, and we came up short. It was a very disappointing ending to our season. We started off on a high note and towards the end of the season we were just in a slump and could not get out of it," Coach Molly Gasuik commented.  Despite failing in this goal, there were a number of notable achievements this season.

Gasuik believes that one of the highlights of the season was the team's first League game against Sacred Heart Academy. The team trailed 7-0 and came back to win 8-7. She felt this was an extremely exciting game and was proud that the team never gave up.  Another highlight was the victory over Nichols in the quarterfinals when the Magic won 7-0. Gasuik felt as if they played as a team and that everyone contributed to the win.

Four players were selected as All-Catholics this season.  Senior Emily Lewandowski (East Aurora) returned to the First Team for a second straight year and seniors Laura Gregory (Buffalo) and Allison Rogowski (West Seneca) were named to the First Team for a third straight year.  Senior Fiona Danahy (Buffalo) was selected as a Second Team All-Catholic.

Lewandowski had the team's top batting average, finishing with a .625 average and a phenomenal on-base percentage of .900, reaching base nine out of every ten times she was up to bat.  Rogowski had a .535 batting average and a .731 on-base percentage.  Danahy finished with a .409 batting average.

Gasuik commended Danahy, as well as seniors Chloe Manikowski (Depew) and Taylor Hoch (East Aurora) for stepping up to share the catching duties this season.  She also felt that Lewandowski had an extremely successful season as a leader on and off the field and that Gregory and Rogowski's pitching helped the team be successful.  Sophomore Tina Zambron (Lackawanna) after an improved second season, will be counted on to lead the team next year.  She also singled out junior Alesia Hamm (Buffalo) who never played softball but managed to pick the game up very quickly and was an asset to the team.

                "Although we came up short and it definitely stings not making it to our goal, I guess it was not

meant to be," Gasuik stated.  "This group of girls made coaching fun and I am excited to see what is in

store for the seniors as they continue their careers in college.  The seniors have built the program up

and filling their shoes will be a big task for next year's team."