CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) - The Corning Community College softball team has established itself as one of the top programs in the country over the last couple of years. After coming up just short in the National Championship the last two seasons, the Red Barons aim to be back competing at that same level in 2023.

CCC will begin its season this Friday, February 24th when they travel to Danville, Virginia for five games throughout the weekend. The Red Barons enter this season as the top-ranked team in the country in the NJCAA Division III preseason poll. Corning finished 40-8 last season where they captured a second straight Region 3 title before falling to Rock Valley in the National Championship in Syracuse.

The team lost three starters from last year, but among the returners include 2021 National Player of the Year and Elmira grad, Lexi Wood and 2022 National Player of the Year and Odessa-Montour grad, Grace Vondracek along with other key contributors and NJCAA Division 3 All-Americans on the roster.

Head Coach, Stacy Johnson says the returners and leadership are a huge advantage for them.

"We've got kids who have played in two National Championships and that is invaluable, that's stuff you can't teach as a coach you can't teach and emulate in practice," Johnson said. "So just that experience and being in that big game and being under pressure is huge and they've been able to talk to younger girls about it and it's not a scary thing, it's a thing of honor and it's a good place to be."

"It's special because all of these girls come from different areas and we really try to connect as much as we can as a team" added sophomore pitcher and infielder, Jayden Hill.

As the Red Barons prepare to enter a new season, they have high goals in mind again with a team with a lot of experience.

"Our big goal is to get back to Syracuse, the national tournament," said Johnson. "We want to win a Region 3 title. You can't win a natty without being in the national tournament, and from there on out we just have fun when we get to Syracuse. Fun is all year long, but at that point, we're playing for ourselves and we're trying to be the best versions of ourselves. We're not comparing ourselves to anybody else's stats, or what anybody else is doing and that's what our motto has kind of been."

"We've worked a lot on the fundamentals and I think that's a big thing that's going to take us to the next level to win that last game, and I think overall we're just focusing on the little things, just bonding as a team and working together on the field," said sophomore infielder and Addison native Bella Benjamin. Bella led the country in home runs last season with 21.

Corning is set to play 20 games on the road before their home opener on Sunday, April 2nd when they host Hudson Valley Community College for a doubleheader.