Varsity softball player Cali Lewis feels the scorching sun on the back of her neck. She knows that her at-bat is what the team is relying on to win their title game. But can she pull it off?

The pitcher winds up and throws a screaming fastball straight towards the catcher’s mitt. But just in time, Cali’s bat connects with the speeding green ball. The satisfying “crack” echoes across the field as the ball disappears behind the trees.

Playing against another team for a title isn’t odd. But what if that pitcher was your former teammate? For these Rocklin girls, this isn’t just a dream; next year, it’ll be a reality.

Seniors Delanie Chrisman, Winona Vigil, Halle Williams, and Cali Lewis are all are headed to different colleges, but could still end up playing each other in their shared conference. Their colleges will be competition partners when the softball season rolls around in their freshman year of college next spring.

“I found out about it after I had already committed to UCSD and thought it was super weird,” says Lewis. “It was a strange coincidence!”

Lewis, who plays third base, says that the girls are more than just teammates.

“We’re all close- we’re not only teammates, we’re good friends.”

Lewis is ecstatic about having the opportunity to play with a college team at all, let alone being able to see her old teammates after high school graduation.

“I’m definitely excited to see them when we play together,” she said. “It’s going to be really fun.”