SNOQUALMIE – Going into the playoffs, one of the main keys to success for the Mount Si softball team through the last three years of postseason appearances has been unity and trust in one another as teammates. The class of 2005, Amy Trenkamp, Kayla Jayne, Sam Baldwin, Ashley Svarthumle and Emily White have all been part of this wonderful period of growth in the Wildcats softball program.

Trenkamp, the Wildcats’ veteran shortstop who will be playing at Charleston Southern University in 2006 on scholarship, really believes in the concept of unity.

“I think that it’s helped that we play together. I know we’ve all played together at least four years or two years together. It helps in knowing the person’s going to be there when you need them and they’re going to get the hits when they need them, and basically just trusting in each other,” said Trenkamp.

For third baseman Ashley Svarthumle, this has been a special group to be a part of. For her, these last four years were special, and she credits her senior teammates.

“They’re just all special people and we’ve grown so close to each other. They’re just fun to be around and I’ll always remember them,” Svarthumle said.

This senior class will be most remembered for its leadership, particularly last year as Mount Si made the miracle run at state. Coach Larry White’s daughter Emily thinks that Mount Si is unique.

“I think that our unit, our seniors, is something that a lot of teams don’t have. I think it’s something that we have the right to be very proud of. I think that mostly we’ve had the ability to come together as a group of people that aren’t a lot alike, and we’ve made it something really special. Our team has developed and we’re going to be something great this year because of our leadership, because we can rely on each other no matter what,” she said.

Coach White will miss this senior class greatly.

“These girls mean the world to me. I’ve coached most of these girls since they were 8 years old and I’m going to miss those girls really bad. The leadership that Amy and Kayla, Ashley, Sam and Emily have provided long before they were seniors has been really a lot. It’s going to be hard to replace those girls,” he said.

Jayne expects that the team’s trust in one another will stand the test of time in the playoffs.

“I just think we’re going to continue the way that we’ve been playing and trusting each other, and we have a lot of confidence in each other,” the second baseman said.

Junior teammate Katie Morgan offered praise for her senior teammates.

“They have stepped up, especially this year. They have stepped up so much and just learning from them and watching them play is so amazing and it’s just such an inspiration,” the first baseman said.

Look for this cast to be a significant factor in the postseason.