Neither Olivia Schwaiger nor Cullman’s softball team got off to a sizzling start to the 2016 season.

The Bearcats opened the spring with a trio of losses to Pinson Valley, James Clemens and Northridge.

Schwaiger, meanwhile, was tagged for 14 runs in her first two outings against the Indians and Jets, respectively.

Not what the rising junior had in mind — even against top-level competition.

In the end, though, it’s not how you start.

It’s how you finish.

Cullman’s ace has amassed a 29-11 record with a 1.53 ERA in 220 innings pitched for the Class 6A No. 10 Bearcats. She’s given up 175 hits, struck out 155 batters and issued just 42 walks on the season. Schwaiger also sports a pair of perfect, albeit shortened, games versus Decatur (five innings) and Good Hope (four).

About that finish? Well, all credit goes to dear ol’ dad.

“I’d have to thank him for my season,” Schwaiger said. “He’s going through a positive stage and cheers me on the whole game. There’s really been zero negativity from anyone. I really like that.”

While positivity has certainly played a big role for the right-hander, other folks have a different take on the matter.

Just ask Stephanie Conner.

The Black and Gold coach has watched from the top step of the dugout as Schwaiger has transformed her game into one of the best in the state — regardless of classification.

“Olivia has stepped into the leadership role this year,” she said. “She’s such a huge competitor in the circle and at the plate.

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ThunderCats

What more can be said about Cullman’s bats at this point in the season?

Not only do the Bearcats have seven regulars with at least a .336 batting average, but they also have six sluggers with at least four home runs.

Talk about an equalizer.

Claire Jenkins leads the team with 14, while Hannah Morton is next in line with nine. Tiffani Schwaiger (six), Sierra Easterwood (six), McKensi Burks (five) and Olivia Schwaiger (four) have also tallied round-trippers.

For Morton, those potential touch-’em-alls provide a peace of mind.

“It’s great, I think,” she said. “It’s comforting for sure. We can all hit for the fences, but we can also score the runs when we need to without all those home runs, too. If we keep hitting this well, this could be the year.”

Taiya Ponder, who relies on her speed rather than power, feels having muscle throughout the lineup is “an incredible thing.”

“We literally have all the power,” she said. “I just run fast and get on base. I can’t even say enough about one or two girls, because it’s everyone for us. Almost everyone has hit multiple homers. If I ever do that, I’m walking around the bases.”

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Sweet Revenge

Jenkins hasn’t forgotten her first experience at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park.

She watched in disbelief as Saraland plated three runs in the seventh inning to stun the Bearcats 4-3 and send them to the losers’ bracket.

Should Cullman defeat Hueytown in the opening round Thursday, it could meet up with the Spartans later in the day, provided Saraland nabs a win over No. 3 Oxford.

“We’d love to get them again,” Jenkins said. “We’d love revenge. We let it slip last year, but we don’t plan on that happening again.”

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Delay? What Delay?

Rain may be forecasted for Thursday and Friday but don’t think that’s going to knock the Bearcats out of their current groove.

Even if the skies open, Conner believes her team will manage the unknown quite well. After all, they just dealt with some bad weather at the North Regional Tournament — and then went out and dominated en route to a title.

“We’ll roll with it,” the Black and Gold coach said. “They know how it goes. We had two breaks on one day and played an extra game the next day. They aren’t getting off stride. If nothing else, they’ll bring the karaoke machine if they have to and sing to everyone in the parking lot for four hours.”