These are good times for the Cathedral High School softball program. They appear likely to stay that way, too. Irish softball turned in yet another memorable season in 2024, the latest step for a program that steadily has progressed toward becoming one of the state’s best over the last decade. “It’s a solid team we have,” Tony Matthews said. The Irish, in Matthews’ 11th season as head coach, turned in sterling record in 2024. They entered the postseason 23-3, winning the City Championship before winning the Section 10, Class 4A title with a 24-6 victory over Lawrence North. The Irish, who lost in the regional round to New Palestine by a score of 12-1, opened the season with seven consecutive victories, then won 11 consecutive more games. They won five more consecutive games before their season-ending loss. “They're all coming together well,” Matthews said. “We have some really good athletes here. The kids just jelled and got their chemistry straight on the team. “They just worked their butts off and did what they needed to improve.” The Irish were defined throughout the season not only by a talented group of elite players, but by a determination to be among the state’s best. “I guess the identity would be they never gave up,” Matthews said. “That got brought up in conversations, about what they fight for. It's about why you're at Cathedral, to get the good education, but to fight for everything, fight for the win. “That's what they're believing in.” The Irish’s postseason was defined by big moments. They beat Pike and Crispus Attucks to advance to the Class 4A, Section 10 title game where they then registered a one-sided victory over Lawrence North. They beat Bishop Chatard, 12-0, in the City Championship title game in early May after beating Chatard, 20-1, earlier in the season. “To come back again for the city championship, I really thought it'd be a closer game because it's hard to beat a team again because that team always tries to step up to the challenge,” Matthews said. “Our girls were just on fire that game and wouldn't let it happen.” The Irish in 2024 were a balanced team with a strong core of senior leaders, and a junior class that has emerged as the program foundation. They also featured a strong sophomore class and a freshman class that portends a bright future. At the core of the ’24 Irish: A junior class that featured a core of strong players – including shortstop Anna Moore, junior third base Angie Valentine and junior first base/pitcher Maddie Liter – who play at the highest level of offseason travel softball. The Irish in 2024 featured: *Moore: .646 average, five home runs, 12 doubles, seven triples and 28 runs batted in. She has committed to play for Purdue. *Valentine: .467, seven home runs, five doubles, four triples and 47 RBI. *Liter: .427, eight home runs, six doubles, two triples and 46 RBI. *Aubrie Wright, senior catcher: .282, four home runs, one double, two triples and 22 RBI. *Alyssa Fry, senior second base who will play collegiately at IUPUI: .333, five doubles and 17 RBI. *Mary Hughes, senior centerfielder: .476, four doubles, one triple and 13 RBI. *Amya Gary, sophomore outfielder: .246, two home runs, three doubles, two triples and 10 RBI. *Sidney Feczko, sophomore pitcher. She went 20-3 on the season with five shutouts, 12 complete games and 166 strikeouts. “It's really looking bright the next couple of years with Sydney,” Matthews said. *Sydney Matthews, freshman third base/outfielder: .265, one triple and six RBI. *Curstyn Hansbrough, freshman outfielder: .538 and one RBI. “They played well together,” Matthews said. “They’ve bought into our work ethic, the program, and they really bonded well with each other. They’re just good teammates to each other. “Somebody else was always coming through to get help get the job done. We played a lot of short game with squeeze plays, bunting the ball, just putting pressure on the defense. That was a big key for us, the girls believing in that part of the game.” The 2024 season proved another step for the program toward the goal Matthew said he and then-Cathedral Athletics Director Jim McLinn had upon his hiring. “When Jim McLinn hired me, he told me, ‘Tony, I want you to develop Cathedral to be a softball school,’’’ he said. “Scecina was the softball school in the city as far as the Catholic schools go. They had the run of softball. “I feel like that’s all changed now. Cathedral’s a softball school.”