Sports360AZ
By Jasmine Garcia
After a 9-1 playoff loss to Queen Creek, Xavier Prep softball knew its road back to the state championship would not be easy.
Looking for a way to motivate her team, co-head coach Sydnie Steffen shared a story about a buffalo. Unlike other animals, buffalos run directly into storms instead of away from them.
The message stuck with the team throughout its playoff run.
“The girls really took to the idea of being like buffalo,” Steffen said. The team even brought an inflatable buffalo named “Stormy” into the dugout during the state championship game.
Days after the playoff loss, Xavier earned another shot at Queen Creek and responded with a dominant 6-0 victory to capture the 2026 state championship.
The victory over Queen Creek was about more than just another state title. It was another example of the standard Xavier softball has built over the past several years. Since 2021, the Gators have captured five state championships, establishing themselves as one of Arizona’s premier softball programs.
According to Steffen, the foundation of this year’s success started with the team’s connection off the field.
“This team is very special because they are such a tight-knit team,” Steffen said. “You can tell how much they truly care about each other and want to support each other.”
That culture is something players feel as soon as they join the program.
“I would describe the culture as a family,” Sariah McNabb said. “Being on Xavier’s softball team feels like you are playing with your sisters and you learn a lot from each other. The sense of community on this team makes you want to push yourself and others.”
The team’s championship run had its challenges. McNabb pointed to losses against Perry and Desert Vista during the season as important learning moments.
“Both of those games opened our eyes and made us realize that the trophy wasn’t going to be handed to us this year and we had to work for it,” McNabb said.
That resilience showed itself again after the playoff loss to Queen Creek. Rather than letting the defeat define their season, the Gators embraced the challenge ahead and fought their way back to the championship game.
Steffen said the team’s veteran players played a major role in maintaining the program’s standards throughout the season.
“Our veteran players show the team’s standards and expectations in all that they do,” Steffen said. “I love the way that these girls push each other and want to work hard.”
Co-head coach Tom Sahhar believes those standards have remained constant throughout Xavier’s success.
“The thing that has remained consistent throughout the team’s success is the level of standards that the girls have for each other and themselves,” he said.
While each championship team develops its own personality, Sahhar said the expectations within the program remain the same.
“We expect the players to come each day and control the things that are in their control, which is their attitude and effort,” he said.
The coaching staff also credits the team’s commitment behind the scenes for its continued success.
“Most people don’t see our preparations that go into how we play,” McNabb said. “Xavier softball takes pride in how we build up our endurance and prepare to face opponents. We also take care of it on the mental side.”
This year’s championship carried additional significance for the program. According to Sahhar, the title carried extra meaning as it marked Sister Lynn’s final year at Xavier after 52 years with the school.
“Getting to leave her on such a high note meant a lot to the school,” he said.
While championships continue to add to Xavier’s legacy, both coaches believe the program’s impact reaches beyond softball.
“Championships are nice, but what is more important is developing young women into who they were meant to be,” Sydnie Steffen said.
Sahhar echoed that sentiment, saying he hopes players leave behind a legacy that extends beyond wins and losses.
“Playing softball means so much more than just the game, or championships,” he said. “It shapes young women into confident leaders.”
While the trophies continue to add up, the coaches believe the culture, leadership ,and relationships built along the way are what truly define the program.
