CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Last season was an emotional year for the Greenbrier Christian Academy softball team. After the death of longtime head coach Dan Moore, his daughter, Kelly Gregory, took over. Now, the Gators are closer than ever and are pushing for another state title.

Sitting at 22-2 on the season, the Gators enter the Metro Division playoffs as one of favorites to walk away with a VISAA State Championship.

“These girls have stepped up. It’s been exciting to see their growth from day one. It’s been good team chemistry,” said Gregory, who’s coaching a roster with only two seniors on it.

Three eighth graders, three ninth graders, three sophomores, and one junior. This team is young, but a lot of them have matured quickly because of what happened with Moore, who battled with interstitial lung disease.

According to Mayo Clinic: “Most of these conditions cause inflammation and progressive scarring of lung tissue. As part of this process, lung tissue thickens and stiffens, making it hard for the lungs to expand and fill with air. At some point, the scarring from interstitial lung disease makes it harder to breathe and get enough oxygen into the bloodstream.”

And as scary as that can be for someone in high school to hear, the players stepped up for each other. Gregory said upperclassmen, such as senior pitcher Haleigh Murphy, were huge toward the morale of the other players during such a hard time.

“Her word is to choose joy no matter the circumstances,” said Gregory of Murphy.

“If I’m upset, don’t let it show on the field because I have 11 other girls behind me all working towards the same goal,” Murphy said.

The Tigers open up the Metro Division playoffs Thursday, May 8 against Hampton Christian at home.