For Bald Eagle softball, what it had to adjust to heading into the 2026 campaign was abundantly clear. In losing its 2025 class after last year’s PIAA Class AAA championship appearance, it lost much of the identity it had built for years, from its historic pitcher-catcher tandem to an outfield harboring 11 combined years of starting experience.

With that, preseason expectations weren’t exactly high. Even with four straight state semifinal appearances and its entire infield still intact, replacing five multi-year starters – including four that started all four years – would spell a rebuild year for just about anybody.

That ‘just about anybody’ just doesn’t seem to describe Bald Eagle Area.

The season began as anticipated, with the team suffering two convincing losses and falling one late surge short of an 0-3 start. But the Eagles turned heel in their fourth outing, shutting out a thriving Jersey Shore in an impressive, 9-0 victory.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bald Eagle Area players celebrate during a game earlier this season.

That served as their coming out party, and they’ve rarely looked back since.

In ending an opposing six-game win streak, they kicked off one of their own. Four of those wins saw them surpass ten runs, including two convincing victories over Centre County rivals Bellefonte and Penns Valley, with its closest contest within the span coming in a two-run win on the road at Clearfield.

When discussing what’s been key to that success, a lot was touched on. Momentum from the Shore win was certainly a factor. But the bigger factors mentioned include its veteran, proven batch of coaches helping first-time starters develop, its now seasoned infield stepping up as leaders and pleasant surprises coming at certain fill-in slots.

“We lost a lot of leaders last year, so I think people stepping up has been a big thing,” said senior outfielder Casey Angellotti following the team’s run-rule win over Chestnut Ridge last week. “All of our coaches have believed in us. They knew that we could do it even though we lost that big group of seniors.”

Through Bald Eagle’s history as a program, many of its wins have seen head coach Don Lucas and assistant coach Jim Gonder involved. Lucas is nearing three decades with the program and just picked up his 400th career win, and Gonder – through over 40 years – has been a part of over 700.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bald Eagle Area competes during a game this year.

Practice makes perfect, and between himself and his assistant coaches, Lucas believes his staff puts together practices that could match anybody’s in the state. Gonder in particular received praise for his ability to break down a swing, a factor which has likely played a role in six Eagles harboring batting averages above .320.

“We just go over the finer points of the game, so our players know that you’ve got to make the routine out,” said Lucas when asked about the keys to the surge.

“Our coaches like to make practices harder than games,” emphasized Angellotti. “So, whenever we come out here, we know we can stay calm and know that we’ve faced tougher, which is pretty good.”

Even with the departures of esteemed leaders, leadership from a player standpoint has also remained a strength for the team. Four-year starter Addisyn Burns headlines an infield brimming with experience, and she’s stepped up as a leader alongside juniors Kendall Gavlock and Raelee Repasky.

From a play standout, Gavlock and Repasky – both juniors – have continued improving considerably from the plate. Each is batting over .400 and has prospered at slugging, with Repasky hitting four homers and Gavlock hitting six doubles on the season. That doesn’t even factor in off-the-field impact either.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express A Bald Eagle Area player reacts during a game earlier this season.

“I would say that Kendall Gavlock has really made a voice for herself, and it’s good that they have her back next year,” said Angellotti when discussing who’s stepped up following the program’s absences. “Raelee has really been up to the challenge, and she’s always a calm leader. She keeps it collected and steps up when she needs to.”

In terms of first-time starters, Angellotti is among the few that have stepped up in a big way. She hasn’t quite shown the acrobatic ability of her predecessor – Taylor Habovick – yet, but she’s proven capable as a defender, batter and most importantly, a leader within the team’s newly formed outfield.

Through 11 games, the outfield – also featuring Hayley Simpson and Macey Guenot – has generated 50 put outs and four assists to just five errors, giving the Eagles consistency in one of their more unpredictable position groups. Angellotti was also responsible for a double play against the Bulldogs.

“She replaced a four-year starter in Habovick, and she is really starting to feel more confident out there,” said Lucas on Angellotti following the team’s win over Shore. “She’s got great speed and good instinct.”

It’s been a similar story at pitcher and catcher. Replacing four years of starting experience at both positions, freshman pitcher Karlee Fisher and sophomore catcher Lily Harter have handled that pressure with grace, with Harter ranking third on the team in batting average at .370.

Fisher tossed a six-hit shutout against Jersey Shore and has posted wins in six of her eight mound appearances. Rough outings against Bellwood-Antis and Bedford cloud her stat sheet here and there, but she has a solid ERA at 4.17 through over 40 innings pitched and has played a big role in the team’s 8-4 start.

“We’ve also found a really good catcher (Lily Harter) and plugged some really good girls into the outfield,” said Lucas. “Our pitching staff is pretty young, but (Karlee) Fisher is tough.”

All’s to say, the Eagles have certainly turned heads throughout their 2026 season, fueled by a boat load of factors. Improvements are still in order if they hope to reach last year’s level, as recent losses to Bedford and Philipsburg-Osceola indicate a potential ceiling.

But hey, they’ve already surprised us once.

Henry Huber is the sports editor at The Express. He can be reached at hhuber@lockhaven.com. Follow him on Twitter at @HenryHuber_.