The girls said they were ready and they proved it.

In their first game of the season on Friday, the South Whidbey fastpitch softball team beat Cedar Park Christian 12-2.

Falcon pitcher Rebecca Stratton threw a complete game, striking out eight Eagle batters and ending the day with two unearned runs on two errors.

“She really had a great game for us today, and I’m very proud of her efforts,” said Falcon coach Chuck Burton. “And our defense backed her up all the way.”

Burton noted that catcher Tylyn Linehan had a great game behind the plate and also helped the offense by executing a hit- and-run play, ripping a double into right field that drove in two RBIs.

“Our offense really came alive in the fourth inning, scoring five runs, and followed up in the fifth with two more. We really have the potential to be a very good-hitting ball club this year, to go along with solid defense,” Burton said.

Nicole Parra went 2-for-3 and teammate Alannah Alber drove a triple into the left field corner and scored on an overthrow.

Alber thought the game was a perfect way to start.

“Once we picked up our intensity and began to hit and score runs, that made all the difference,” she said.

Teammate Melanie Murphy agreed, adding that the team’s attitude has changed since last year.

“We’re closer and have a better understanding of who we are,” she said. “I know that sounds odd, but it translates into a mindset that any time we’re on the field, we can win.”

Slow starts and hot finishes are the way to go as far as first baseman Samantha Pope is concerned.

“This was my first softball game in two years, so I was a little rusty,” Pope said. “After the first couple innings, things picked up, I didn’t make any errors and we won. Can’t beat that.”

Pope said the real difference this year are the many seniors on the team.

“We know what to expect, from the girls we play against and from the girls we play with,” she said. “And the coach was pleased with our performance, especially the hitting.”