With the 2020 season cut short by the pandemic, the Academy of the Holy Names’ softball team chose the theme Unfinished Business. Out to avenge their loss, the team met a season full of adversity and uncertainty. In March, the team received a tragic blow: the passing of Nicholas Petrarca, father of shortstop Rachael Petrarca A'21 and second baseman Camille Petrarca A'24. Rallying around the family and relying on their faith, the team turned around the season’s rocky start and kicked off a 14-game winning streak.

The latter part of the season was not smooth sailing. The team saw four walk-off wins in clutch games, including the district final, region semifinal, and state final — all courtesy of hits from Belle Sardja A’21. Facing an impressive Windermere Preparatory team in the state final, the Jags were down through the middle of the seventh inning when Sardja hit a bomb that dusted the glove of Windermere’s center fielder, bringing in two runs. With that, the Jags won 4-3 and finished business.

Click here to see footage of the game-winning run.

Click here for a Bay News 9 feature on the team.