Through 28 seasons, Bald Eagle head coach Don Lucas has racked up boat loads of wins at the helm, mostly recently leading the Eagles to their fifth state championship appearance since 2004. Three wins within the aforementioned six-day span would grant him win No. 400 of his career. And on Friday, the team ensured he’d cross that frontier in front of their home crowd.

Hosting Laurel Highlands foe Chestnut Ridge (4-4), the Eagles roared out to a 14-0 lead through three innings, making the most of their opponent’s errors while racking up 12 hits of their own. That was more than enough to grant them the victory, as they defeated the Lions, 14-2, in five innings to earn Lucas’s 400th career win and the team’s sixth in a row.

When asked about what was going through his head following the accomplishment, Lucas brought up the storied groups of girls he’s had the opportunity to coach through the years. While 28 years is a long time to be coaching, the decades have gone by in the blink of an eye thanks to them.

“Personally, I guess it seems like a lot of time, but it doesn’t at the same time,” said Lucas. “A lot of outstanding young ladies have consumed my life. I mean, I didn’t win a doggone game; they did. So, I’m just thankful and blessed to be able to do this.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle softball head coach Don Lucas high fives Chestnut Ridge players after a softball game at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

“We also have Jim Gonder, who has 700 wins. We’ve been doing this a long time; I have 28 years and he has 40 plus. I don’t think I’m going to catch him,” he added on assistant coach Jim Gonder.

The win itself was much of the same for the Eagles.

Since starting 1-2 to close out March, they’ve roared to life in April, winning six straight games while surpassing double-digit runs in four of them. Following a come-from-behind victory at Clearfield on Thursday, they’d re-establish the dominance present in prior games against Chestnut Ridge, setting the tone immediately and never really slowing down.

In the first inning, Addisyn Burns and Maelee Yoder gave Bald Eagles base runners from the jump, and Raelee Repasky would ensure that early burst wasn’t in vain. Her grounder down the leftfield line resulted in a one-out single and more notably caused chaos in Chestnut Ridge’s outfield, as Burns and Yoder made it home and Repasky got all the way to third.

From there, the Bald Eagle offense continued picking up steam.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle starting pitcher Karlee Fisher throws the ball to first during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

Three hits in the second helped it increase its lead by four, featuring a one-out double from Hayley Simpson, two-RBI single from Kendall Gavlock and one-RBI single from Lily Harter. And another six in the third put the Eagles one run away from an early run rule, featuring a full rotation of Bald Eagle’s lineup and then some.

Overall, it was a balanced win for the team.

On the day, Bald Eagle finished with 12 hits, with Kendall Gavlock, Raelee Repasky, Lily Harter and Casey Angellotti contributing multiple. Gavlock and Repasky each finished with three RBIs, Repasky logging two of hers on a third-inning, two-shot homer.

Defensively, freshman Karlee Fisher pitched a full five innings, scattering six hits, striking out two batters and only allowing two runs through an error-ridden fourth. She and her field held the Lions scoreless through the first three innings before stifling their rally attempts late.

“We had a rivalry game in the beginning of the week, and I think it just motivated us for the rest of it,” said Addisyn Burns when discussing the win. “It was a pretty good team win. Everyone was hitting, defense was pretty solid for the most part. We just played together as a team.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Hayley Simpson celebrates during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

“We squared off the ball tonight,” said Lucas. “That was a good team we beat. We were just better tonight.”

The milestone was always a possibility entering the season, but the speed in which the Eagles secured it for Lucas is notable, a testament to their quick improvements and solid coaching in general. Despite considerable key departures, their mixture of veterans and first-time starters has immediately gelled, and the result has been six straight wins.

Even with so much time left in the season and a game the very next afternoon, the win meant a lot for the team, especially its seniors. It’s a reminder of all the success they’ve experienced in recent years, all of which has been garnered under the same storied coach.

“We all had that in the back of our heads,” said Burns. “We knew we were playing for his 400th if we won, so we were basically playing for him tonight. It was cool.”

“I’m grateful to be a part of it. (Lucas) has had a great journey,” said senior center fielder Casey Angellotti on being a part of the milestone. “I’ve been a part of two state runners-up and two state semifinalists, so it’s been a great ride. I’m proud to be a part of it, and I’m excited to see what we can do this year. Glad to be doing it with him.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle softball players greet Maelee Yoder (5) in the dugout after she scored a run during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

Now, the Eagles (7-2) will look to finish a tough week perfectly, as they travel to Philipsburg-Osceola (6-1) for a tough Laurel Highlands contest on Saturday. That game is set for 1 p.m.

Bald Eagle 14, Chestnut Ridge 2

(5 INNINGS)

Chestnut Ridge 000 20 – 2 6 7

Bald Eagle Area 347 0 – 14 12 2

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Casey Angellotti (25) throws the ball to a teammate during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

Paige Morgart, Bella Datillo (3), Serenity Oeser (4) and Emma Callihan. Karlee Fisher and Lily Harter. W – Fisher. L – Morgart.

Top Chestnut Ridge batters: Ally Yarnell 2-3; Caydi Leppert, Saige Yarnell run; Serenity Oeser RBI. Top Bald Eagle batters: Raelee Repasky 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; 2 runs; Kendall Gavlock 2-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Lily Harter 2-3, RBI; Casey Angellotti 2-3; Hayley Simpson 1-3, 2B, 2 runs; Addisyn Burns 1-3, RBI, 3 runs.

Records: Chestnut Ridge 4-6 (4-4 Laurel Highlands); Bald Eagle 7-2 (5-2 Laurel Highlands).

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Raelee Repasky slides home for a run during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Lily Harter sprints to first after a single during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Raelee Repasky (16) throws the ball to a teammate during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Hayley Simpson (7) throws the ball to a teammate during a softball game against Chestnut Ridge at Bald Eagle on Friday. The Eagles won 14-2 in five innings.