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When two schools came together to compete on the softball field in upstate New York, it was no disappointment.

That mantra has been the case for the combined Schroon Lake – Bolton High School softball teams, also known as the Wild(cat) Eagles, which have been merged into one team for the past eight years.

“We are a team,” said team head coach Melanie Persons. “I think the most important thing for us is that both communities are so supportive and so small that they were able to bring these girls together.”

Low numbers for both college softball programs led to the merger in 2015. Today in 2023, the Wild Eagles look to repeat as Section VII Class D champions and advance past the New York State regional semifinals.

“I just want to say how lucky I feel,” Persons said. “That these two schools have been able to successfully merge because each of these girls brings something special to the program.”

The school enjoyed raising its first two banners for the 2023 Mountain Valley Athletic Conference regular season title and its championship banner from that same season. However, it’s not out of the question that the team can cheer harder simply by practicing with each other.

On Tuesday, March 28, the Schroon Lake High School gym was filled with laughter, applause and mutual encouragement during every drill and drill, a direct sign of how important team bonding is valued for this group of girls.

“The chemistry is huge for us,” said Bolton senior bowler Jane Trowbridge. “Every practice and game we always have a lot of fun and the relationships we have are really positive.”

“Honestly, I think it’s great,” said Schroon Lake senior first baseman Riley Smith. “All the girls are very nice. We get along really good.

That fun is certainly enjoyed with team building activities and games to close out the end of practice. The fun even continues outside of practice, where kids from both schools worked together off the field to wash cars for a fundraiser.

“It was a really fun time,” Trowbridge said. “It was like we weren’t even working.”

The Wild Eagles will seek to mount that positive morale in a new season to repeat as sectional champions. It’s something Persons is confident in, knowing what an experience it will be to return to the diamond.

“Many of these girls started in elementary softball and worked together in the program,” Persons said. “I think that dynamic for them has also been key, because they’ve been together for a long time.”

Schroon Lake – Bolton will look to start their season in the win column as they will host Chazy High School on Monday, April 17.