RAVENNA – The Muskegon area has produced some powerhouse high school softball programs in recent years.

There’s the Oakridge softball team, which had an amazing streak of 65 consecutive conference victories. There’s the Holton softball team, which has had multiple runs to the state semifinals, including last season.

Now the Ravenna softball team has emerged as a major force to be reckoned with after starting this season with a perfect 9-0 record.

The Bulldogs started the week 6-0, but had little trouble sweeping a doubleheader from conference rival North Muskegon on Tuesday and beating Kent City in a single game on Wednesday.

Ravenna really showed off its bats in the sweep at North Muskegon. The Bulldogs hit four home runs in their 16-0 win in Gmne 1, with Emma Gillard, Emma Herremans, Liberty Willick and Amelia Porter all clearing the fence. Gillard added another homer in the second game, a 13-3 victory.

There’s no guarantee that the Bulldogs will win the West Michigan Conference or make a long run in the state tournament, but what they’ve done so far is more than a little impressive.

“We expected a pretty good start,” said Bulldog head coach David Sherman about the undefeated start, which includes four conference victories. “You never know what you’re going to get, but we were hopeful and expected a fairly fast start.”

The Bulldogs’ run started in eye-opening fashion with a season-opening doubleheader sweep over a very good Holton squad, by scores of 8-7 and 7-2. They followed that with easy sweeps of Mason County Central (15-0, 24-0) and Newaygo (10-0, 13-6) before beating North Muskegon and Kent City this week

“It was a big boost,” said junior pitcher Emma Gillard, who picked up the victory in Game 1 of the doubleheader against Holton. “Last year we lost to Holton and this year we competed with a team that went to state. It brought our intensity up.”

The fast start isn’t all that surprising to Gillard, considering the highly competitive practices Ravenna had to start the year.

“I knew right out of the gate at the first practice that we’d have a good season,” she said. “Everyone on our team wants to win and it shows in practices and games. We’re a fast-paced team that works hard and when we show up for games, we’re always sprinting.”

If the Bulldogs end up doing as well as Gillard hopes, she will likely play a big role with her arm and her bat.

“She provides a lot of leadership,” said Sherman about Gillard, who scorched the ball for a .565 batting average last season. “She provides it both offensively and defensively and in the dugout. We expect her to have a huge leadership role. She’s vocal when needed and she’ll lead by being a positive example too.”

Gillard said she has a ton of confidence in her teammates every time she takes the mound to pitch.

“I’m not out there by myself,” she said. “I know my teammates are behind me and I wouldn’t be the leader I am without them improving me.”

Some other players who are also off to good starts for the Bulldogs include junior Kara Postema, senior Maddie Kilbourne and senior Liberty Willick.

New teammates this season include freshman Addison Gillard, Emma’s younger sister, who often pitches when Emma doesn’t.

“It’s a blast,” Emma said about playing with her sister and Herremans, another freshman standout. “Knowing we have younger girls comping up to compete and work hard at practice sets the tone for us and how we want to compete.”

The Bulldogs were very competitive in 2021, snapping the Oakridge conference win streak and going 25-5 overall, but falling 4-2 to North Muskegon in the Division 3 district championship game.

That frustrating loss has Gillard focusing on loftier goals this season.

“Our goals this season are to win conference, win districts, and to make a run in regionals,” she said.