Patchogue-Medford’s softball program has come a long way in a short time, and if early results are any indication, there’s no telling how far the Raiders will go this spring.

Three seasons removed from a one-win campaign and off back-to-back appearances in the Suffolk Class AAA playoffs, third-year coach Alexa D’Onofrio’s squad busted out of the gate with an eight-game winning streak against League I rivals, including a pair of intense one-run victories over Longwood.

“We’ve built a consistent, competitive, and community-centered program that continues to grow each year,” said D’Onofrio, a 2009 Pat-Med graduate and former player. “I always wanted to come back and coach here. We’ve been able to turn things around pretty quick.”

The positive tone was set in the March 27 opener when the Raiders outlasted visiting Longwood, 15-14, behind homers from senior Hannah Eve and sophomore Julianna Lograsso, five RBIs from sophomore Ahria Treschl, and three from senior Abby Eve. Sophomore Morgan Harper picked up the win in relief.

“It’s the first opener we’ve won since I’m coaching here, and I think it got everyone super excited,” D’Onofrio said.

The second meeting between the teams two weeks later was nothing like the first. Instead of 29 runs, the Raiders and Lions combined for just three as the pitchers ruled the rain-soaked day. Treschl drove home senior standout catcher Ariana Shellman with the eventual winning run in the top of the sixth as Pat-Med earned a 2-1 come-from-behind road victory on April 11. Shellman tripled home senior Katie Wenke (3-for-4) to tie it. Freshman pitcher Arianna Kelly-Weihberg went the distance, striking out four while allowing only one walk.

While the offense has raked, the work of Kelly-Weihberg in the circle has been vital to the impressive start. After the team’s projected starting pitcher transferred, D’Onofrio turned to Kelly-Weihberg, last year’s JV starter, and classmate Cailyn Rose-Freaney, who last spring started every game at third base.

Unfortunately, Rose-Freaney suffered a sprained ankle in the early going and is missing approximately three weeks. Kelly-Weihberg has stepped up to start every game so far, showing incredible composure, her coach noted. “Arianna is throwing strikes and keeping us in games,” D’Onofrio said. “We’ll re-evaluate when Cailyn returns.”

Shellman is a four-year starting catcher and will play at the collegiate level at Marywood University. “Her leadership and work ethic are unmatched,” D’Onofrio said. “Nobody works harder behind the plate or invests more into our young pitching staff than she does.”

Shellman hits third in the lineup behind left fielder Hannah Eve, who batted .491 last season with 27 hits, 20 runs scored, and 10 RBIs, and Wenke, a lefty-batting centerfielder off to a big start (.500 batting average through eight games) after missing 2024 with an injury.

Lograsso and Treschl, who plays first base, are ripping the cover off the ball, hitting .560 and .458, respectively, with two homers, along with Abby Eve. Senior Giuliana Atcosta is a captain along with Shellman and batting close to .400. Sophomore Sophia Randazzo anchors the infield defense at shortstop, with junior Alley Reynolds at second base and sophomore Lia Trimboli filling in nicely at third.

“The girls are 100 percent all in,” said D’Onofrio, who is assisted by Nico Siracusano and Emily Rohme. “Two of our goals are to win the league championship and host a playoff game.”

The Raiders host William Floyd this Friday at 4 p.m.