SAXONBURG — Grace Hensch is returning to soccer this fall. Samantha Robb is playing volleyball. Brooke Bastin is riding horses.

This summer, the trio saw a lot more of each other.

They were teammates on Saxonburg's under-14 fastpitch softball team in the Alle-Kiski League and with the Armstrong Elite travel team.

“We probably played 40 to 50 games together,” Grace said.

“Our rec team would play once a week, practice two or three days, our travel team had games twice a week, practiced once ... We're on the field a lot,” Samantha said.

“I never get tired of it. Not at all. I absolutely love this sport.”

All three feel that way.

Samantha pitches and plays shortstop. Brooke pitches and plays first base. Grace catches and plays third base.

“We all want to play softball together in high school (Knoch),” Brooke said, looking toward the future. “I'm hoping to play when I go to college.”

Saxonburg's 14-under team wound up finishing second in the Alle-Kiski League with an 8-4 record. The team dropped the championship game to Apollo, 10-5.

The team then hosted a U-15 tournament and won that as well, besting a field that included Butler, Apollo and Natrona Heights.

“All three of those girls are very good players,” Saxonburg U-14 coach Jim Jones said. “Brooke and Sam have been playing for a number of years. Grace is only in her third year of tournament play. She's come a long way.

“Our team just had a dedication to practice. Most of these girls have been playing together for three to five years. We got some work in during the fall, took batting practice (in a garage) during the winter.”

Joining Brooke, Grace and Samantha on the Saxonburg roster were Ava Breeze, Brynne Smith, Carissa Tekely, Hannah Klemm, Jadyn Pethtel, Riley Pointkowski, Sarah Mitchell, Sylvia Luffy and Taylor Miller.

Sylvia was a third pitcher on the team.

“We didn't get started until July, so the competition was different this year,” Jones said. “We were fortunate to have three pitchers and three catchers.

“Our hitting was pretty good, too. This was just a good group of girls.”

Grace played the Armstrong Elite team first — that team placing third in its final two tournaments this summer — and talked Brooke and Samantha into joining her.

“The two of us had never played travel ball before. Grace told us how fun it was. Brooke and I decided to try out and we both made it,” Samantha said.

“Those games were definitely more competitive. You work hard. It made us better players.”

Now they're moving on to their other sports.

Samantha plays on Knoch's junior varsity volleyball team and “we're practicing six days a week now,” she said.

She's been trying to get Brooke to join the team.

“I'm pretty tall and I guess I'd do well at volleyball,” Brooke said. “But after this summer, I need a break. I want to ride horses more.”

The Bastin family lives next to a family that has horses. Brooke not only rides the horses, she does jumping with them.

“I go over to their barn a lot,” she said. “I help groom the horses and wash them. I enjoy my time over there.”

Grace did not play soccer last year, though she's returning to the sport this season.

When softball rolls around again, this trio will be back.

“Our team just gets along well,” Grace said. “We work together on the field and that helps us win a lot of games.”