This article was originally published with The Red & Black on April 27, 2015 and can be found here.

Six freshmen softball players entered February prepared for their first season at Georgia. Meanwhile, four seniors were gearing up for their last go-around.

Although the differences between the class of newbies and the class of veterans are plentiful, these 10 athletes are poised to join the other nine players on the Bulldogs’ roster to make 2015 a special season.

Georgia is 39-13 and sits sixth in the Southeastern Conference. The team has moved past rough losing streaks and looks anxious to compete in the upcoming SEC Tournament, which the Bulldogs won last season. Without the relationships built between the freshmen and the seniors, Georgia may have never made it this far.

“It’s amazing,” freshman pitcher Brittany Gray said. “I can always count on them for anything, whether it be this or school.”

The contrast of a crowd settling in with a group set on leaving can be tricky. However, that wasn’t the case for the Bulldogs. Georgia’s senior class insisted on lending a helping hand to the younger players because they knew what it was like being new to college softball.

Each effort made by the upperclassmen helped the freshmen learn on the fly and contribute to the team’s overall success. As important as team-building was early on, the focus is now on the SEC Tournament and the Women’s College World Series.

A trip to the WCWS has eluded a senior class that missed Georgia’s last trip to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by two years. The team’s 175 wins in its four years is worth celebrating, yet it has the seniors yearning for even more.

“We came in knowing that we had to put in hard work in order to play our freshman year,” senior outfielder Niaja Griffin said. “That’s what we did each and every year because we knew it wouldn’t be given to us. Knowing that it’s about to end, we’ve just got to go out with a bang and know that our hard work will eventually pay off for us.”

Georgia has been capable of beating the best around. The Bulldogs handed then-No. 4/3 Oklahoma a 6-5 defeat in mid-February. They tussled with No. 5/6 Alabama and narrowly missed out taking two out of three from Alabama. And although they failed to grab a victory over top-ranked Florida, Georgia’s 4-3 loss on Apr. 18 did not dispel the notion that it could hit a hot streak in tournament play.

To get that far, Georgia needs each individual in the lineup to compete. That includes a few freshmen who call tournament play in high school or travel ball their most relevant past experience.

“I’m not going to say it’s the same because it’s a lot different,” freshman catcher Katie Browne said. “It’s a lot tougher here. The coaches all prepared us well enough that I think we’re ready to go.”

The upcoming conference tournament will go a long way in determining the legitimacy of a run to Oklahoma City. A poor showing in the 10-team, single-elimination tournament can be disastrous for Georgia’s odds. It has the potential to point out holes in the team’s play or show that the Bulldogs mistimed their best play by over a month. On the other hand, a good showing against teams in the top-heavy conference could preview big things on the horizon.

If plans to walk away as the champions fall through, the end of the season for the departing four still won’t be negative. Senior third baseman Anna Swafford is willing to take responsibility in preparing the newest Bulldogs for what’s to come.

“I think we’ve played a big role [in mentoring the underclassmen],” Swafford said. “Especially when it comes to what’s expected of Georgia softball. We’ve left the legacy of playing free and just being there for your teammates. Hopefully, that will carry on throughout the years.”