The 2025 Valley Christian Trojan softball team enters the postseason armed to the teeth - battle-tested, tightly bonded, and ready for the fight to come. Following a regular season filled with dominant victories and defining challenged, the Trojans have earned the 6^th seed and will storm into Saturday's opening round at home, skipping the play-in stage with a 13-1 conference record. Though their ranking may not reflect the full might of their campaign, the Trojans are confident in their firepower and fully believe the battleground ahead favors them.

The squad is a potent mix of seasoned players and rising stars, their ranks bolstered by four impact transfers and a freshmen class already proving their mettle. The team sharpened their swords against some of the best in the state -  facing 4A and 6A schools in grueling preseason tournaments – and emerged with scars, strength, and standout performances. A narrow loss to Yuma Catholic hurt their power points, but not their pride. The Trojans have already defeated two of the top eight 3A teams, Show Low and Snowflake, and went toe-to-toe with Mica Mountain (4A), who conquered Sabino – triggering a domino of upsets that put Valley Christian in the conversation as true contenders.

The Defensive Shield

Behind every strike thrown and every battle won lies a defense that has become a wall of steel. With 556 total chances, 416 putouts, 106 assists, and a .939 fielding percentage, the Trojans have turned 14 double plays and minimized errors like true tacticians.
Senior ace Taya Clausen, a general in the circle, said, "When I step on the mound, I know my team's got my back. We've tightened up, reacted faster, and I trust that if I hit my spots and they get a piece of it, our defense will finish that job. That trust really fuels my confidence."

The Pitching Artillery

Valley Christian's pitching staff – consisting of Makay Fraley, Leigha Kremlacek, and Clausen - has been nothing short of lethal. Across 27 battles, they've face 608 opponents and surrendered just 100 hits and 37 earned runs. With a strikeout count of 233 – 69 of those caught looking – their ERA sits at a fierce 1.863, with a WHIP of 1.144 and an opponent batting average of just .187.

Junior catcher Sophie Kercsmar explains: "Our pitchers are pure weapons. Whether it's precision or pure power, they hit their spots and absolutely dominate. The strikeouts have been unreal this year – it gets me fired up every single time. I can feel the momentum shift when they're in their rhythm."

Offensive Firepower
The Trojan offense hasn't just battled – they've bombarded. With a .456 team batting average, .551 OBP, and a slugging percentage of .697, this squad has piled up 292 hits, 293 runs, 257 RBIs, and 91 stolen bases. They've launched 18 home runs and forced opponents into 123 walks and 30 HBPs. In 819 plate appearances, Valley Christian has consistently struck first and struck hard.

Sophomore slugger Kremlacek put it simply: "No matter who's on the mound, we've stayed locked in, adjusted fast, and swung with intent. We've hit the ball hard all season and delivered when it mattered most. Our offense isn't just powerful – it's smart and relentless."

Command Center: Playoff Preview

With no clear dominant presence in 3A and each top 8 team having suffered at least one defeat, the battlefield is wide open – and the Trojans see a clear path to victory. Their strength of schedule sharpened their swords, and now they enter with momentum, discipline, and belief.

"As we head into the playoffs we are extremely excited and looking forward to the opportunity. Although we are extremely young (the Trojans have just five upperclassmen) we feel prepared and ready for the challenge of facing the best in the state and have a solid team with experienced players. Our players have to be selfless and be ready to go at anytime. We preach, 'it's not about me, it's about we', because at the end of the day only 9-10 girls can play and we have 16 girls capable of playing at this level. I am truly blessed to take this playoff journey with these young ladies!" – Head Coach Michael Fraley

Valley Christian has assembled its squadron, locked in its strategy, and now stands on the brink of postseason with one mission: victory. The war for the 3A crown begins now – and the Trojans are ready.

Make sure to follow along with their state tournament run here: https://azpreps365.com/brackets/softball/3a/1513-2025-aia-softball-3a-state-championship