St. Catherine’s historic season ends with state championship loss to perennial power Bishop O’Connell

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The St. Catherine's Saints softball team fell in the DI VISAA State Championship Game on Friday to Bishop O'Connell, 1-0. It was St. Catherine's first-ever appearance in the state championship game. With the loss, the Saints finish with an overall record of 23-3.

A win in the state championship game was never going to be easy for the Saints, who were facing off against Bishop O'Connell, a team that has won 13 straight state championships, claiming one every season since the 2011-2012 season. According to MaxPreps.com, the Knights were also riding a 72-game winning streak and have not lost a game in three seasons.

The Saints went toe-to-toe with the Knights. Entering the 5th inning, the game was tied 0-0, but an RBI single from Bishop O'Connell's Abby Bond gave the Knights a 1-0 lead.

St. Catherine's was able to load the bases in the 6th inning but left them stranded, as George Mason commit Bri Lentz escaped the jam for the Knights.

St. Catherine's head coach Karin Trice, a former assistant with the Knights, said after the game that although her team couldn't come away with a state championship, she's still incredibly proud of them. "Incredibly proud. We have worked so hard this year, had a really tough schedule, we've worked extra hard at practice, and I'm incredibly proud of this team and how far they have come," she said following the loss.