PENDLETON — It seems difficult to believe even for a program as successful as Pendleton Heights softball.

No fewer than six girls off this year’s roster are going to play NCAA Division I softball when their time with the Arabians has passed. Five of those six are seniors.

As near as has been determined, no school in any single sport has had more than three Division I players on the roster at the same time in this county. So seven seems a bit unbelievable — perhaps to everyone but their coach, Scott Hall.

“I knew they had put in the work,” said Hall. “Plus they had gotten in front of the right people. We all know that recruiting really happens in the summer.”

So it becomes a multi-step process. They start playing early, they work hard, they play good high school competition and then their parents make the summer sacrifices to make sure they play on high-profile travel ball teams.

“It has always meant something to be coming out of the Pendleton Heights softball program,” said Hall. “That was true even before I got here.”

But the coach cautions that college scholarships aren’t the goal for his players.

“We talked about it a few days ago,” said Hall. “I asked how many got into this to get a college scholarship. Nobody raised their hand.”

Obviously the goals are set at the team level and the individual stuff takes a back seat once the season begins. “It’s an honor just to be on this team,” said outfielder Casey Jamerson, one of the team’s seven seniors. “We’re all anxious and excited to get started. I think we’ll play well.”

Most people think they’ll do more than that.

“Our expectations are to win the state title,” said senior outfielder Shonda Garringer. “But we also want to have fun. We try not to let outside pressure affect us.”

“There’s always pressure here, but this year is a little different because it is our senior year,” said Erin Falkenberry. “But we try not to focus on that.”

Instead, the focus is on each game as it appears on the schedule.

“We want to play every game like it’s against our nemesis,” said Garringer.