Jeff Moeller, sports correspondent

It has been a banner year for Richmond Hill’s softball team this season, and head coach Chris Jenkins is confident his team can make a deep playoff run.

The Wildcats recently won their first regional title since 2016. They began this week with an overall 20-6 record and an unblemished 11-0 regional slate.

Last season, the Wildcats recorded a school-best, fifth-place finish in the state playoffs, and ended the year with an overall 20-11 record. This season, the Wildcats already have matched last year’s win total and bettered their 10-5 regional record.

Jenkins stated the team began working out three days a week in June, working on fundamentals and weights. It would prove to be a pathway to their current success.

“Everything that we are doing on the field and in the weight room is geared toward building on last season's success,” said Jenkins. “Ultimately, we want to take another step forward.”

Jenkins has seen a total team effort led by his senior and junior group of Kainani Auld, Ahnalyah Estevez, Clarissa Frascella, Skylar Klinglesmith, Ashella Matias, Lennon Monaco, Aubrey Ragins, Maggie Reynolds, Ainsley Washington, Aryianna Bigford and Gessilyn Clark.

Auld, Matias, Ragins, and Washington were selected to the 1-6A All-Region Team last season. Clark and Estevez have helped anchor the pitching staff alongside Scarlett Parkerson.

Jenkins has been proud of his team’s consistent effort all season. The Wildcats began this week with a five-game winning streak, and they earlier produced a 10-game streak in which they outscored their opponents, 96-37. On the season, Richmond Hill has produced 188 runs and allowed 93. They have posted nine double-digit victories.

“It has been the same cast of characters,” said Jenkins. “We have been very consistent with our offense and defense all season long.”

Jenkins hasn’t singled out a single game as a jump start for this team’s success, but he sees it as a steady stream from the start. The Wildcats will finish the regular season this week with games against Greenbrier and Wayne County before they will host a state team Oct. 14.

And the Wildcats’ best effort may be down the road.

“We didn't necessarily have an upswing along the way,” said Jenkins. “We have had some nice wins throughout the course of the season.

“But I think we can all be in agreement that we haven’t played our best ball. We can be a tough team when we put it all together. There’s no better time than now.”