MOSES LAKE — Three sophomores will be returning to Big Bend Community College next season to “finish what they started” after seeing their softball season come to an early end in March.

Sophomores Hanna Reid, Riley Newbold and Taryn Mathews elected to take their extra year of eligibility and return to the Vikings lineup next year. The Big Bend softball team was off to a 7-1 start when the season came to an abrupt end.

Sophomore Maya Saneishi is headed off to Division 1 next season as she joins the Wildcats of Abilene Christian University in Texas, where she will have three years of eligibility.

Big Bend head softball coach Michael Garoutte said the move for Saneishi is a great deal. Coming into the season, before the hot start, Garoutte said expectations were already very high.

“This was definitely a year that could have ended up really well for us,” Garoutte said.

In the three returnees, Garoutte said, the Vikings bring back the top three players, talent-wise and leadership-wise, outside of Saneishi. Garoutte said that extra year of leadership is going to be huge for their returning freshmen as well as next year’s incoming class.

“We had an extremely talented freshmen group last year and this year, so I think this is going to be incredible this year,” Garoutte said. Garoutte said the sophomores coming back knew they had a special group this year. One of the main motivations for them returning, Garoutte said, was to finish what they’d begun with the Vikings.

Garoutte said he isn’t sure if coming back will heal the wound of losing this season for his players.

“It was heartbreaking for all of us, but I do think it will make them feel better just to play that extra year,” Garoutte said. “They were moving on anyways to play at a four-year, but they really wanted to finish what they started. I don’t know if it will mend the wound, but it will definitely help it heal.”

A smaller-than-usual roster this season will be a little larger-than-usual group next season, Garoutte said, moving up from 14 players to 20. He added that extra competition at every position will only help his team.

Into an early offseason, Garoutte said the routine has been about the same, just recruiting from home. Garoutte said they’ve still been holding weekly meetings as well to keep coaching staff and players in contact.

“We’ve been in communication, the team’s been in communication,” Garoutte said. “We’re not face-to-face, but we’ve been in touch with everybody.”