The Cardinals softball team finished second at the 4A state tournament this week, capping off a 27-2 season with another state trophy. 

After battling through two shutout wins, the Cardinals fell short in the final against McPherson, losing 4-1. McPherson was undefeated this season. 

Senior Kaylyn Carpenter said it has been fun to watch the group grow and support each other over the last four years. 

“It’s helped me grow as a person,” Carpenter said. “They build each other up, and they’re the best girls that I’ve ever played softball with.”

This group of seniors won a state trophy every year. They won first place as freshmen and second place as seniors, with two third-place finishes in between.

“I think they’ve probably won more than any other four-year group,” head coach Bill Finucane said. “As far as hardware and so forth, nobody’s done better. They left their mark, and it’ll be there for a while.”

Senior pitcher Samantha Claire was the Cardinals’ anchor for the tournament, recording 34 strikeouts across three games. During the semifinal, she broke the school record for strikeouts. 

“This team is so special,” Claire said. “I mean, I say it all the time, but the love we have for each other is like none other.”

Senior Katie Courter said both the coaches and the players have been there for her no matter what.

“I’ve never had a team that, like, trusts me so well and makes me build myself up in the way they do,” she said.

Senior Maddy Arnold said ending her softball career would be hard. 

“I’ve never had a team that surrounded me so well and always talked me up,” she said.

Senior Reese Pattison said it was valuable to have a team that cared for each other, but also pushed each other to be better.

“We can hold each other accountable, but still be best friends at the same time,” she said. “And you just kind of guide each other over four years playing here.”

Finucane echoed the comments, saying the players had a unique ability to bounce back when things got hard and stay positive.

“I think they’re fantastic,” he said. “I’ll miss these kids, every one of them. They’re fun to coach.”

Senior Jaiden Burris said it would be fun to watch her teammates continue to play softball in college. Five of the seniors will play in college. 

“It’s gonna be great seeing them play and watching them,” she said. “But we’re with each other literally every day. We’re like built-in best friends.”

The culture in Eudora is special, senior Alexia Born said. She said it made being a part of the team unique.

“Knowing they have my back is one of the best things that I could ask for,” she said. “This entire team, this entire program, we’re all here for each other. I don’t think you’re gonna find that anywhere else.”

Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]