Off the field bond leads BHBL softball team to first state title

BURNT HILLS, NY (NEWS10) -- The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake softball team went to Long Island to make history this past weekend. They did just that.

The Spartans beat Clarence 8-4 on Saturday to win the Class AA state championship, the first state title in the history of the program. "Knowing that no one's ever done it is, it's going to be in the history books," said senior captain and pitcher Katie Rhodes. "Obviously we were the first ones, and I just think that going forward, I'm going to remember this forever."

"It's amazing to be one of the first anything," said senior captain Lily Haluska. "To be able to be one of the first to bring home a state championship for the school and to represent Burnt Hills and be on a team where we all really wanted it and we all put in the work and put in the hustle and all of that, and to be able to bring it home is such an incredible thing."

"It hasn't really dawned on me yet that we did that, but we've been dreaming it of it for so long," said senior captain Carli Ewing. "Just to be part of this team is just such an honor."

Led by their four senior captains, this group was clearly special on the field, finishing the year 21-2, atop the state. But to them, it's the off-field stuff that makes this group what it is. "Everybody is just so different and we always have so much fun together and everybody's always laughing, dancing, having a good time," said senior captain Cianna Benamati. "We're so close with each other and we're just like a big family."

"There's a ton of unique personalities on this team, but we've created an environment where, you know, everyone can be themselves and we just are who we are and everyone supports that," said Haluska.

"Once they leave Burnt Hills, that's going to be the legacy that they leave," said head coach Caitlyn Rana. "Hard work, determination, loyalty and fight. The fact that it's with this group is so much more special."