Manhattan, Mont. — Manhattan softball has entered the stretch run of their season with a young roster that keeps building belief as the year moves along.

The Tigers have established themselves as a state title contenders over the past two seasons. The program won its first state championship two years ago and finished third last season.

This year’s group looks different than in years past. Manhattan has just two seniors on their roster, while the rest of the team is made up of sophomores, freshmen and 8th graders. 

“I think we all had doubts and I think they’re almost all perished. We’ve lost three games (this season) and it’s obvious that we’re young, but we’ve gotten so much better and I think our confidence has gained so much,” Tigers freshman pitcher Lina Christiansen said.

Freshman catcher Averie Matheson said the team started changing expectations early.

“We’re a young team. Everybody had not high hopes for us. But then we showed them in the first week that we have a good potential. We’re young and we all have good chemistry together and work together well,” Matheson said.

Head coach Dennis Elgas is in his third season at the helm and his history with this group of players goes back years.

“I coached these girls since they were eight years old. We started a 10U travel team, and I’ve been coaching them. Then, when I moved up to the high school, they kept playing and I knew we had a lot of potential. I knew what they’re capable of doing, and they came together,” Elgas said.

Elgas pointed to pitching and defense as key parts of Manhattan’s success this season, which are two components needed to win a championship.

“I have two very strong freshman pitchers. And, we’re able to make plays behind them. They don’t have to think they need to strike everybody out. They’re not overpowering, but they can spin the ball and they put it into play, and we’re able to make plays behind them,” Elgas said.

The Tigers lost the senior class that helped set the program’s recent standard. Now the younger group is trying to carry that forward into the postseason.

“Losing all of our seniors last year, and then all of us coming up at once makes us want to believe that we can win and compete with them, as they did last year,” Matheson said. “I think just that we have high hopes for going into tournament time and we hope that they’re fulfilled,” Christiansen said.

Manhattan is set to close the regular season May 16 against Cut Bank.