Ashton Gerard/MDN Then-junior Sidney Lovelace swings at a pitch during a Class B game for the Bishop Ryan softball team last season.

Last year didn’t end how it was supposed to for the Bishop Ryan softball team.

The Lions entered the 2017-2018 season with their hopes set on winning the program’s first Class B state softball title after dropping down from Class A, but those aspirations never morphed into reality, as No. 2-seeded Ryan suffered a 10-5 loss to No. 1-seeded Central Cass on June 1, 2018, in the state semifinals.

The Lions gained an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning only to watch the eventual state champion Squirrels explode for a total of nine runs in the third and fourth innings en route to the victory.

Still, Ryan head coach Alec Grothe didn’t falter in his message to the media after the loss.

“We are going to be in that state title game next year,” Grothe asserted to the Minot Daily News.

It’s this unflappable confidence that’s engrained in every player on this year’s roster. After finishing in third place last season, the Lions are back this time around with expectations as high as ever.

“This group of girls has the drive to win and the will to win,” Grothe said. “It doesn’t matter if we have a one-hour practice or a four-hour practice, they’re locked in and ready to go. You can tell that they want to be in that championship game.”

Defensively, Ryan returns all of its starting infielders.

Heading that listed of experienced players is Sealy Rovig. In addition to being a large contributor on both the offensive and the defensive end, the senior also occupies a key leadership role for the Lions.

“Sealy Rovig is going to be a dynamic player for us this year,” Grothe said. “She’s kind of the captain of our infield, and she’s one of the hearts and minds of our team. I really think she’ll do great things.”

Despite seeing two key hitters in McKinlee Harmon and Eden Kramer graduate this past summer, Ryan still boasts plenty of heavy hitters in its rotation.

Among those sluggers is Nora Kramer, a sophomore outfielder with a deadly combination of speed and power that’s sure to cause problems for the opposition.

“I think (Kramer) is one of the fastest people in the state and one of the best bats too,” Grothe said. “I think she has a legitimate shot at playing college softball if she ever wanted to.”

Ryan also has an ace up its sleeve at the mound, as the team boasts one of the region’s most promising young pitchers in Sydney Upton.

The freshman has already mades strides this offseason and seems poised for a stellar year as one of the team’s premier throwing options.

“(Upton) has proved herself in the offseason and this first week of practice that she’ll be one of the better pitchers in the state,” Grothe said. “I’m excited to see her throw and see what she grows into.”

Upton, Kramer and the rest of the younger players on the Lions will all benefit from a team filled with veterans that are eager to pass along their wisdom. It’s this willingness to help that Grothe feels will be a difference maker this time around as Ryan chases the title.

“(The seniors) do a great job at teaching our younger girls,” Grothe said. “We have a lot of great girls that will take time out of their practice to lead someone else and help them out. It takes a lot of pressure off of me to know that I have players that will step up and make the team better, not just themselves.”

Ryan kicks off its season on April 4 with a road game against Des Lacs-Burlington/Lewis & Clark at 4:30 p.m.

Justin Martinez covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JTheSportsDude.