Discovery Canyon enjoyed a banner year in 2023.

The Thunder softball team finished 20-6, their best season since 2014 when they went 20-3.

Also, last September, Discovery Canyon beat Pikes Peak Athletic Conference juggernaut and eventual Class 4A champions Lutheran to hand the Lions their first-ever PPAC loss.

Last year was phenomenal. But this isn’t 2023.

This is 2024, and the Thunder recognize last year’s successes won’t accompany them to the diamond this season.

And that makes the Thunder dangerous.

“The foundation has been set in our program and I feel like that carries over every year,” Thunder coach Tanya Ramsay said. “The foundational greatness has been there whether it’s in our culture, our character or things that are important to us.”

Thunder players and coaches wear the words “pursue greatness” on their practice jerseys, which Ramsay said is the theme of this year’s team.

The team members wear the motto on their literal sleeves.

Ramsay wore a black shirt with a hashtag that reads “Our Team” on her left sleeve as a reminder to players.

“This isn’t last year’s team, this is our team,” Ramsay said. “We’re looking forward to seeing what these girls do.”

That’s especially true for sophomore pitcher Bella Holcomb.

In eight starts for the Thunder in 2023, Holcomb went 7-1 and struck out 44 batters in 51 2/3 innings pitched.

The sophomore managed an outstanding season even while battling discomfort in her throwing arm.

“I had a lot of arm pain last year, but I saw a new pitching coach, (former D-I pitcher) Shelby Babcock, she helped with my arm,” Holcomb said. “The reason it was hurting so bad was because I wasn’t getting my hip movement correct. I fixed that and that made my speed a lot better. I’m ready to make an impact this season.”

The Thunder will battle to replicate last year’s success but without twins Kassidy and Kameran Randolph and Avery Hixson, who graduated in 2023.

Hixson, now a Division I catcher at Southern Illinois, helped guide Holcomb through each pitch in the circle and through any tough moments.

While Holcomb boasts a year of high school experience and the tutelage of Hixson, she is cognizant that her arm alone won’t carry the Thunder.

“We know how important trust is,” Holcomb said. “With Avery and the twins, now that they’re gone, trusting my team and trusting myself and having confidence is a big aspect.”

Taylor McCann shared similar sentiments.

The junior shortstop acknowledged the hole left by the Randolphs and Hixson’s departure but said that doesn’t diminish the current team’s abilities.

“One thing that’s special about our team this year that I don’t think other teams have is how tight we are,” McCann said. “I think we’re going to win (close) games this year because of how we come together in games and work together so well. We know each other on and off the field and that’s important to our success.

“From girls who maybe haven’t played as much, knowing that they have eight girls behind them has to mean the world. You’re not playing timid and you can go all out for a dive because you know your teammate will be there to back you up.”

Similar to how the Thunder did during their first seven games last season, Discovery Canyon started 4-0 in 2023 but dropped their next three contests.

Then, the remainder of the year, the Thunder went 16-3.

Ramsay isn’t concerned about players facing a storm as long as they realize they’re the Thunder in the storm.

“Our goal is to approach every game with the mindset of being the best we can be at that moment,” Ramsay said. “One thing I’ve always said is we want to play our best ball in October.”

The past three seasons the Thunder have an above .500 record in October including last year when Discovery Canyon finished the month 10-1.

“It’ll be a little more of a climb this year, which we’re excited about,” Ramsay said. “We’ll see what happens. I love that the senior class is saying this is ‘our team.’ We want to see what can this specific team do building off our foundation and the leadership we had last year with (Avery, Kassidy and Kameran). … We’ll see where the run takes us.”