Mars' Izzy Berkopec connects for one of her three extra-base hits Friday in the Planets' 14-0 win over Oakland Catholic. Mars softball finished 2-15 last year, but stands in second place in its section this season.

ADAMS TWP — Izzy Berkopec endured one of the toughest seasons of her young life last year.

As a junior on the Mars softball team, the losses mounted and so did the despair.

But Berkopec and the rest of her teammates used that experience — the Planets were 2-15 and lost by the 10- or 15-run mercy rule eight times — as fodder for 2018.

A clean slate. A new start.

“Last year was tough, no doubt about that. This year — definitely a lot different than last year,” said Berkopec, a senior shortstop. “We're kind of out for some revenge. No one thought of us as a threat this year in the slightest.”

But that's just what the Planets have become: a serious, potent threat.

Oakland Catholic found that out the hard way on a windy Friday afternoon at Mars' spiffy new turf Centential Field.

The Planets banged out 12 hits — five for extra bases — and routed the Eagles 14-0 in five innings.

It was the fourth straight win in which Mars scored in double digits and the fifth time it tallied 10 or more runs this season.

The Planets (10-6, 8-3) are now a half-game ahead of Moon for second place in Section 3-5A.

A full story appears in the Butler Eagle.