The Cypress Bay Girls’ Softball team are big winners this season.

They started their season defeating four division 6A teams by more than 58 runs and according to Head Coach Lonny Shapiro, they are more than ready to face their toughest competitors.

“I am the recipient of their hard work and dedication over the past four years,” Shapiro said. “I put them in a position to be success, but ultimately they need to perform and they have consistently done that.”

The Lightning players have already defeated Taravella (8-1), Coral Glades (7-0), Piper (17-0), and Miramar (26-1). They will be playing rivals Cooper City, Everglades and Flannigan over the next several weeks. They will also play former state finalists American Heritage and Pines Charter School.

Shapiro said he is optimistic about their chances to make it to the state tournament. There are five seniors on the team and Sophomore Cara Axelrod is returning as starting pitcher for the second year.

“It’s a big position and I know that every pitch is important,” Axelrod said.

Axelrod started playing at 7 years old and admitted she still gets nervous before each game. However, she said that the commraderie on and off the field has helped elevate her game.

“We are like a family,” she said. “We love to go out to dinner together and we are all friends.”

The players support each other and work well as a team, however, according to Shapiro, they are all very self-motivated and demand a lot of themselves.

“They give 100% individually which has made us successful as a team,” Shapiro said.

 Last year, the team finished 18-9 and two years ago they made it to the state finals. Two players, shortstop Nicole Steffen and outfielder Krista Clyde, have already committed to colleges to play for in the Fall.

Shapiro added that most of his players have been playing for many years and the youth programs in the surrounding communities are increasing the popularity of the sport.

He said that he is proud of his players and their commitment to each other, their academics and softball.

“What kind of person they are is more important to me than anything, “ he said.

This is Shapiro’s second year as head coach. He also works as an ESE Support Facilitator at Cypress Bay. He works with kids with disabilities and supports them in their classes.

“He writes us notes and sends us quotes and letters on game day,” Axelrod said. “He inspires us every day to do our best.”