The remarkable scholastic athletic careers of Milton's talented quartet of senior softball players ended one game too soon.
The team -- led by pitcher Nicole Smith, catcher Kelley Pfleegor, first baseman Jennalee Williams and shortstop Larissa Luu -- lost 2-1 in the state AAA semifinal on Monday.
Last year, the Milton squad won every game before losing in the state final. This year, they lost just once prior to Monday.
With the loss, the four seniors finish their high school careers with a winning percentage of 92.
That's a better record than the most dominant teams in professional sports history. The 1906 Chicago Cubs still own the best win-loss record in Major League Baseball history by capturing 76 percent of their games. The 1995-95 Chicago Bulls won 88 percent of the time, which remains unmatched by any other NBA team.
A winning season is noteworthy. Four winning seasons is extraordinary. The success of Milton softball in recent years has been virtually dynastic.
Even casual fans of local sports may have recognized the names of some of these players before they entered high school.
By age 10, they already had the first of many championships -- picking up a state Little League title in a playoff run during which the Milton girls outscored the opposition 45-2. This glimmer of dominance was just the beginning of a run of consistent excellence.
At 13, they finished third in the World Series, and at 15 they won it.
At least two of the graduating seniors, Smith and Pfleegor, plan to continue playing softball in college. Smith is set to join the Division II national champions at Lock Haven University.
Based on their eight-year run of title after title, the Milton softball players may be the most dominant players ever to play Valley sports.
Debating the comparative merits of the Valley's many other champions would make for a lively and entertaining conversation. The Milton girls have made a strong case for this title, even if the state championship proved to be just out of reach.
Opinion
Milton softball stars end remarkable run
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