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NEW MIAMI — There are reasons why the New Miami High School softball team isn't familiar with the program's last Miami Valley Conference championship in 1986.

The players? They weren't alive yet. The head coach? She was approaching her sixth birthday.

Yes, it's been a very long time between MVC titles, but the Vikings ended that drought this season by capturing the Gray Division crown.

"We're trying to let it all sink in and not lose sight of the fact that we still have games ahead of us," third-year New Miami coach Amanda Mayer said. "I think it took a couple games before it really could sink in and become theirs. Now they own it."

The Vikings, powered by the bat and arm of sophomore Kim Gault, are 12-4 and finished 9-2 in MVC play.

Gault and junior second baseman Lindsey Carman are both hitting .543 for New Miami, which closes the regular season today, May 8, at Seven Hills.

"Winning the league is big," Gault said. "I think we shocked a lot of people. A lot of schools think New Miami can't do anything. But we always pull together."

Mayer, whose squad has just one senior (center fielder Alicia Miller), admitted this championship run has been a little surprising.

"We didn't really know what we were going to have this year," Mayer said. "As the season went on, it became more apparent to us that we had a lot of talent, and it was really a great combination on the field."

Of the MVC championship, she added, "A lot of these girls, especially those that are juniors, have wanted it for three years now in other sports. They have come so close in other sports and kind of saw it fall apart. So I think a lot of them had the hopes that it would happen, but were also prepared if it didn't. I think they now realize the hugeness of this for the sport and the school as a whole."

Miller, junior shortstop Macie Lawson and Carman are the Vikings' returning starters. Gault has been the anchor, throwing all but one game this season after not pitching previously at New Miami.

"I was a backup pitcher in summer ball, so it was a big change to go from that to the varsity level and having a lot of pressure on me," Gault said. "I like it, but sometimes it's stressful. When you walk someone, you feel like you're letting the team down."

Mayer said this is a strong offensive team that has improved greatly on defense over the course of the season. The Vikings aren't real fast, but they hit with authority.

"I'm excited to see where we're going and just hearing the buzz," Mayer said. "I think we have really positive things coming out of the softball program now. All of our hard work is paying off."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194

or rcassano@coxohio.com.

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