When the season begins in late January for the Moorpark Raiders softball team, they’ll be eyeing not only the regular season Western State Conference Gold Division crown, but they’ll be looking to make a deep run into the playoffs.

Ending the regular season with an unbelievable record of 28-8 is something to marvel at, but after a crushing defeat in the first round of the playoffs to College of the Canyons, this team is raring to come back strong.

The numbers behind this Raider team were staggering on multiple fronts. Having shutout their opponents 12 times on the mound, and using the bats like Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers, they combined for a collective .392 on-base-percentage while posting a run differential of 255-93.

Sophomore pitcher and outfielder Emily Hammond is eager to get back into the action.

“The returners are all fired up to bring their A game this season,” said Hammond. “Each and every one of us has our own individual goal, whether that be me working on my swing or being able to start every game, it all adds up to the team’s overall goal.”

This Raider team is absolutely loaded for another run to the Gold Division title, after eight players from last year’s team were recognized on either the All-WSC First or Second Teams. Six of those players will be returning this season, and with Head Coach Dave Fox at the helm, there’s no telling how many more will make it.

Fox was awarded the Western State Conference Coach of the Year award after last season’s success, and the way he prepares this team is nearly second to none.

“Coach Fox has made sure that both our mental perspective of the game and the physical perspective are on the same level,” said Hammond. “He has started to push us each and every practice.”

Hammond reiterated that the sole mindset is to regain the top spot in the division.

“We just want to go out there and put all our effort into every game, but our overall goal as a team would be to become back-to-back WSC Champions.”

This Raiders softball team should not be overlooked in the 2017 year, because there is real talent on that diamond.

Last season was a magical one, with a roster consisting of 14 freshmen and only three sophomores, their performance was something to behold despite an abundance of youth. Now, it’s safe to say that there will be a winning culture surrounding this program once again, because now that youth from last year, turns to a veteran strength.