Despite the loss of two graduated seniors — third baseman Lauren Quirarte and star pitcher Alina Werth — the Cardinals have risen to the challenge after last year’s championship loss, dominating the AAA A-division with a season record of 9-0.

Having played like champions throughout the 2010 season, every returning player felt the blow of last year’s upset in the championship. But this year, the girls want to make sure that they learn from past mistakes and prove their dominance. In every game thus far, no team has scored more than five runs on the Cardinals, thanks to a superior defense led by the strong arm of junior pitcher Michelle Willis. In addition, the Cardinal offense has easily shut down opposing teams’ chances of winning by scoring several runs, according to senior co-captain first-baseman Chloe Roddy. “Since this is my last year, I really want to end it on a good note,” Roddy said. “No matter which team we face, I want to make sure we are playing our best and never let up.”

Washington, the defending champion, seems to be the only team that poses a threat to the Cardinals’ trophy run because of their experienced and coordinated players. On March 17, the Cardinals managed to defeat them in a close 4-2 game. “Washington players compete on club teams and even play with some of our team members in the summer,” Roddy said. “We need to make sure we stay on top of our game whenever we play them.”

Along with slipping ahead of the threatening Eagles, the Cardinals have shut out almost every team and finished games before the 7th inning by mercy ruling. Recently, the Cardinals swept the Burton Pumas 18-0 on April 14, crushed the Marshall Phoenixes who forfeited on April 12 7-0 and devastated the ISA Cobras 33-0. “We practice hard and long, which is why we’re first in our league,” senior second baseman Angela Trinh said. “Also, most of the players in our league don’t play on club teams, like Lowell and Washington, so many of them are inexperienced.”

Since the AAA is much less competitive in softball than other leagues, the Cardinals have searched out challenges, and have had to improve their game so that they can compete with the stronger teams outside of the league. After a brutal defeat against Saint Ignatius Wildcats, 1-11, on Feb. 25, the Cardinals stepped it up against the more competitive schools, later defeating Sacred Heart Cathedral 2-0 on March 1 and El Camino on March 3, 12-2. “Playing against stronger teams definitely gave us a chance to play up since we don’t get that in our league,” Willis said.

Throughout the season, Roddy and senior co-captain shortstop Katie Tam have guided their team to success by setting examples and ensuring teamwork. “As a four year player on varsity, I have learned to make sure that we work as a team because that always leads to success,” Tam said. “It’s important that we always talk and communicate to help each other.”

With an undefeated season, the Cardinals are hopeful to regain the AAA championship, as they did two years ago. “Last year, we lost the championship because of mental errors,” coach Sascha Taylor-Ray said. “I know we can take the championship game. We just need to stay mentally sharp.”

A version of this article first appeared in the April 29, 2011 print edition of The Lowell.