Up past the Terraces and next to the practice fields, four things in blue and white play together for their fourth year. Four seniors, four leaders, made stronger by their four distinct demeanors. Four different things with the amazing ability to get along well at home together or at their practice facility.

Thing 1 (Mel Chinigo) is a goof with passion and vigor. Thing 2 (Jenn Marro) has a presence, so cross her at your own peril. Thing 3 (Jackie McCorry) smoothes things over in the wake of Thing 4 (Hannah Shalett), a thing of small stature that acts as enforcer — not to mention she’s also one hell of a catcher.

Behind the plate, Shallett presents herself loudly, until she gets home and conducts herself modestly, while McCorry is laughing loud, distinctly and contagiously at Chinigo and Marro’s antics that they put on continuously. The wild, wacky wilderness in which these four are living should have a sign out front for visitors dropping in.

“We have to warn people before they come in this house,” Marro said.

It’s a wonder these things haven’t shot the team’s playoff hopes dead.

Quite the opposite actually —  these four have helped the team morally. By being so close and living so comfortably, these things are teaching teammates a lesson in winning mentality.

“In the past it was harder to get to that point, and this year we’re already there,” Chinigo said.

At 12–4, that point means winning but not letting it get to their heads. And Chinigo said it’s all beyond tangible measurements.

“Since we all work together so well, we just play the game,” she said. “We don’t play the opponent.”

Thing 1 and Thing 2, Thing 3 and Thing 4, this group of seniors is like none seen before. They’ve won 107 games and have only lost 25. That’s a superb record, whether you’re an amateur or a pro.

But there’s one thing that’s missing, just one more place to go, the NCAA championships, where these four things want to win gold. With these four senior things (plus seven juniors, four sophomores and six freshmen more), this team’s future looks bright. Oh, the places it’ll go!

Do yourself a favor, whether you like softball or couldn’t care less about sports, check out these things show off their talents of sorts. Hurry, don’t linger — their time left here is shorter than your little finger.