Bishop Guertin softball players mob Bella Nutting after her home run during the Cards' 15-1 rout of Keene Wednesday at Elliott Field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The Bishop Guertin High School softball team this spring is motivated by the past, enjoying the present, and excited about the future.

That’s what happens when a good ending to one season carries over.

Remember, the Cards came out of the middle of the pack to reach the Division I title game last June before falling to powerful Londonderry. But that gave them confidence and this season they’ve picked up right where they left off, heading into this morning’s game at fellow unbeaten Windham with a 6-0 record thanks to Wednesday’s 15-1 rout of Keene.

“Every one’s very much underestimated us,” said BG leadoff hitter Sophie Bilodeau, who started the season going 9 for 9. “They’re like ‘Oh crap, they can play.’ So I think this year it definitely helps with how we play our game. We’re definitely here, and here to be a top seed.”

Her sister, Dakota Bilodeau, said the Cards have the attitude “Why not us?”

“Starting every season we set a goal and it’s to win a state championship,” Bilodeau the coach said. “I think it’s really easy to say it, but we’re not really going to do it. But we actually can do it. We were on that stage. … We set that goal, and there’s a lot more belief behind it.”

The Cards toyed with the Blackbirds, pounding out 15 hits. They took advantage of two Keene outfield errors to score five in the first, four in the second, and just kept the attack up. Leading the way was Meara McDevitt, who went 4 for 4 with a single, two doubles and a two-run homer for four RBIs in the cleanup spot. Bella Nutting doubled in a run in the first and hit a solo homer in the second.

Pass the word – this Cardinal team can hit.

“That’s what we practice,” Dakota Bilodeau said. “It’s all about our approach. I think our mindset’s really positive about going up to the plate, hitting balls early. We don’t count hits,we count barrels. We’re just looking to hit the ball hard.”

Then there’s the pitching, which so far has held up, allowing just four runs in the last four games after giving up a six-spot vs. Concord in the season opener. They’ve been using the one-two combo of Avery Zapenas and Jenny Davey, and it’s worked. Yesterday Zapenas allowed five hits (two infield) and the one Blackbird run while striking out five and walking zip over three frames. And all Davey did was strike out five of the first six hitters she faced.

Bishop Guertin’s Avery Zapenas delivers a pitch during the Cards’ 15-1 win over Keene Wednesday at Elliott Field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

“They’re awesome, they work really hard,” Bilodeau said. “Working hard to be efficient. They know their strengths, they know their weaknesses. They have a really good defense behind them, and they trust them. That’s half the battle with pitching. … They’re two workhorses.”

The Cards could have looked past the

‘Birds with this morning’s big test ahead, but that didn’t come close to happening.

“Keene’s a good program, they’re always scrappy, so we were ready,” Bilodeau said. “Just one game at a time, looking to win the week.”

Which is what they’ve been doing since the tourney started last June. And this year’s June is just a month away.