Softball’s five senior players sat in the third-base dugout with plans for the senior practice.

Without a chance to finish on top of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, the seniors followed in Sacramento State softball tradition to finish the season with fond memories of how they have competed together at Shea Stadium.

“They go out with more memories,” coach Kathy Strahan said of the yearly tradition of senior practice.

While the rest of the team was taping nicknames to their backs and filling out a questionnaire, a little yellow cone was making its way across the back fence. It was Strahan, who was wearing the pin-striped softball pants, which the seniors said they hated.

She said they picked the pin-striped jerseys for the coaches and the rest of the team because they hated wearing that uniform and they wore the bright yellow shirts and green shorts because they love the yellow.

“It’s not to make anyone look funny. It’s just for fun,” she said.

Senior Ashley Dawson said the practice is a way to let loose in the final week of play.

Senior co-captain Katie Rhoe said each event that the seniors planned out symbolized something and needed teamwork to complete the task.

“There is a meaning for everything,” she said.

The women capped off the hour and practice with the traditional water balloon fight and no one was spared.

When the balloons were gone, junior Teri Ann Caoagan pulled out the big guns, soaking anyone in sight with the water hose, that’s normally used to water down the field prior to games.

The season started out with promise as Sac State was named to win the Pacific Coast Softball Conference.

With returning players like sophomore catcher Jamie Schloredt, a powerhouse hitter who was batting over .500, and ace sophomore pitcher Cassie Cervantes and the addition of sophomore pitcher Kayla Meeks, who transferred from Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, the statement of PCSC champs didn’t seem far from the truth.

Strahan said she planned the season tough, playing ranked teams like No. 1 Tennessee, No. 6 Northwestern, No. 11 Washington and No. 12 Stanford.

Sac State started off the season right, beating Santa Clara twice in the Cal Poly Tournament. It ended 2-2, with two canceled games.

The season began to get worse, and the Hornets were plagued with injuries, which led to them losing Cervantes.

Mid-March, Cervantes quit the team, but Strahan said the team banded together despite the numerous things dragging them down.

“Cassie was a hard blow, and we didn’t come back.” Strahan said.

Junior Sherry Clark said everything that was going against the players made them stronger.

“It seemed like when times (were) rough, we stayed together and got through it as a team,” she said. “We went through a lot of injuries and losing people. This is the core group, the strong part.”

Rhoe said after everything, she never thought about quitting as an option.

“I’ve never not wanted to come out (and play),” she said. “I’m really proud the team pulled together and dealt with the adversity.”

Sophomore Whitney Loomis said the loss of Cervantes made the team stronger.

Senior Jennifer Fryou filled the void left after Cervantes left. Fryou said she has always thought of the team as her second family.

“It was a good way to end all the hard work,” Fryou said.

Amy Jo McKenzie had been used solely on offense, but flourished on third base during her senior year.

Even though she got to play more, she said it was a hard season to go through.

“It was very tough. I knew we could have been better, and we had so many high expectations,” she said.

The Hornets posted an 8-23 record prior to the start of the conference, but Strahan said the team still had a chance to win the conference title.

Loomis belted her first home runs, as a Hornet, when Sac State beat San Diego three games to one.

The Hornets finished their season 19-32 overall, 9-7 in conference, and placed second in the PCSC.

Strahan said that no two seasons are alike, but is glad that she will keep most of her starting lineup, only loosing McKenzie at third base.

Looking toward the next season, Strahan has recruited three new athletes and will have one transferring in as a junior.

Caitlin Lowe of Vallejo, Megan Schaefer of Tigard, Ore., and Jacqueline Serrano of Downey, Calif. will fill in the new freshman class in the 2008 season. Karyn Gilbert can be reached at [email protected]