While Quaker Valley's softball team said farewell to its lone senior on Monday, the team left a pretty good impression of what may be in the future.

Grace Affeltranger's first-inning, inside-the-park home run started the offense, and Abby McTiernan had four RBI as the Quakers drilled Northgate, 14-4, for their third win in four games. Jackie Persuit had a three hit day of her own, while Allie Rakowski earned the win.

For the team's senior day, the Quakers said goodbye to left fielder Alex Brooks, though they do have one remaining home game on the schedule, today against Beaver Falls.

The emphatic win did, however, build on the team's best record in recent years, improving the Quakers to 8-11 overall. With only one junior (Persuit) on the roster, as well, it seems the program is headed in the right direction.

"When I first came over here, they had won one game that year," Quaker Valley coach Ray Fernandez said.

"If we can get a win against Beaver Falls on Thursday, we'll finish 9-11. That's pretty good from where this team was, and we've got freshmen and sophomores all over the field."

The Quakers have been on the rise since midseason, winning six of their last 10 games.

Included in those results are two section wins, over last-place South Side Beaver, 14-8, and a 12-2 win over Beaver, a team which beat the Quakers in their first meeting.

"We can hit the ball, but it's mistakes in the field that end up killing us," Fernandez said.

Fortunately for Fernandez, his girls in key positions have time to learn how to field.

Since Persuit moved to center field, his infield is made up of a freshman and five sophomores -- catcher Paige Alexander, pitcher Rakowski, first baseman McTiernan, second baseman Affeltranger (the lone freshman), shortstop Meg Entwistle and third baseman Abbe Bernard.