By Zack Medlock’s own admission, the John Stark softball team continues to be, in large part, unknown in Class I.

Yet the Lady Generals currently maintain a 15-3 record and secure a top-four playoff seed with a win against 2-12 Bow in the season finale on Friday, May 30.

“If people had told me two years ago that we were going to be this good, honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised,” said Medlock.

“The last two years we’ve had a talented group of athletes who had some brilliant games and some not-so-brilliant games. I knew after last year we could do some special things this year if we performed and approached things the right way, and this season we’ve had a lot more brilliant games than not.

“This is my seventh season coaching softball, and I’ve coached soccer as well, and I’ve never had so much fun coaching a team,” added Medlock.

With 10 of 11 players from Weare, including senior captains Madison Belanger and Monique Giroux, the Lady Generals continue to roll.

“It’s a testament to our two senior captains,” said Medlock. “They set the tone out there and make my life a lot easier. They know their roles and are following through on their end. I can coach them, but I can’t hit for them, catch for them, or pitch for them, you know.”

While the seniors lead the team, it’s a strong crop of juniors that have JS in position to compete for the Class I title this season.

Alexe Proctor, with her stifling fastball, and Emily Sweeney, with her three solid pitches, hold teams at bay from the mound; and Taylor Buxton, Abbey Sullivan, Becca Morin and Olivia Cray contribute with their bats and gloves.

Sophomores Kelsey Francher, Molly Dussault and Ashley French have also aided the team’s run.

As fine a season as the Lady Generals have had, Medlock said it hasn’t come without adversity. In fact, it’s the manner in which they’ve handled the rough patches that has Medlock so excited about his squad’s chances. JS lost its first game of the month, 4-3, after taking a 3-1 lead in extra innings against Plymouth on May 1, and was thumped the next game by Monadnock, 10-2.

“It’s times like that, as a coach, you wondered how that would impact them,” said Medlock. “I knew the talent was there, but it’s all the other stuff you worry about. Can you keep the chemistry? Can you keep it together?”

John Stark won its next time out, 12-0, at rival Kearsarge and have taken nine of 10 contests since that point.

A preseason trip to Florida, Medlock added, may have helped prepare the Lady Generals for challenges.

They played six games against some of the top teams from Minnesota and other parts of the country, and were thrashed the first five contests. But they rebounded with a 6-4 triumph in their final game and have yet to cool off.

“They really didn’t get bummed out about losing five straight games – and some were pretty ugly against some real powerhouse teams,” said Medlock.

“You don’t really plan a trip like that for a team you don’t think you can do special things with.”