With just 11 players and no seniors, Napa High’s varsity softball team is on a 10-game win streak that includes six Monticello Empire League victories in as many tries.

The Indians will take their 11-2 overall and 6-0 MEL records into today’s first round of the 23rd Annual Napa Easter Tournament.

The tourney, consisting of 10 varsity teams, will be held at Kennedy Park today, Friday and Saturday. The varsity teams playing are Bethel (2-7 overall), California (8-1), Christian Brothers (5-6), Golden Sierra (1-9), Hogan (2-7), Vallejo (6-1), Vanden (4-7), Vintage (10-3) and Woodland (10-3).

There is also a junior varsity tournament that features eight teams. Those games will be played at Napa High.

Third-year Napa varsity head coach John O’Connor credits the team’s success to its hard work, persistence and positive attitude.

“They’re in good shape and work extremely hard,” he said. “They’re a pretty talented group. They’re young but completely familiar with each other and get along well. It’s a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. They’re all willing to work hard and share the work equally.”

Mackenzey Bard, Haley Brown, Becki Heimbigner, Micayla Smith, Jena Thibodaux and Kalina Calontoc are the team’s juniors. JJ Wagoner and Paige Andres are sophomores and Alex Robben, Delana Miller and Devin Caldwell made the varsity squad as freshmen.

Bard is the team’s ace pitcher and has recorded 116 strikeouts over 84 innings while only allowing five earned runs off 41 hits and eight walks. She notched a season-high 17 strikeouts in one non-league game and 13 in a league contest.

Though a couple of girls on the team have pitching experience, Bard is the main hurler for the third straight season.

“I like it a lot,” Bard said about pitching every game. “I like to help out my team and get the job done. Sometimes it’s hard on my arm but other than that it’s OK.”

Wagoner completes the battery though she played first base as a freshman. She’s caught most of her softball career but started at first last season during Devry Mitchell’s senior year.

“She’s doing a great job catching me and we can communicate real well,” Bard said about Wagoner.

Wagoner added, “Mackenzey and I have played before; it’s like we haven’t skipped a beat. We’re always thinking the same and have good chemistry. She doesn’t make me work too much.”

Because of Wagoner’s position and her talent, O’Connor has asked the sophomore to step up as a vocal leader as well as someone who leads by example.

“We’ve got several kids that are not hesitant to speak up,” O’Connor said. “I’m pushing JJ to be the vocal leader since she’s the catcher and on the field has the best view of the field. I told her I wanted everyone to get used to the sound of her voice. She’s taken on that role fast over the past few weeks.”

Wagoner added, “I like it. I always feel I’m a leader especially when it comes to teams. I do see the whole field so I know what’s going on the most. I think I’m pretty smart with plays. Even though I’m young, I’m maturing and I’ve adapted pretty well. It’s nothing that I’m not used to. On other teams I’ve stepped up.”

The 11-girl roster gets along well and Bard and Wagoner think much of their success might be because there isn’t a big age difference between players and they’re all growing together as varsity athletes.

“We trained really hard in preseason and we have come together as a team,” Bard said. “There’s a lot of chemistry. We all work hard and there isn’t anyone lazy on the team. We’re a young team so we’ll be together a while. We’re all communicating, chemistry is the biggest part of the team and it helps us come together as a team and win as a team. We’re going to just keep getting better and improving.”

Wagoner added that a mutual goal the team has is making it to playoffs after coming up short last season. So far, the Indians are in first place with Fairfield (4-2 MEL) and Vintage tied for second place. Vacaville (3-3 MEL) and Armijo (1-5) are in fourth and fifth, respectively, with Wood (0-6 MEL) pulling up the rear.

With 21⁄2- to three-hour practices, six days a week, the girls are focused on continuing their dominance in the MEL. O’Connor works with the team on drills, hitting and pitching almost daily but also focuses on things that have slipped them up during competition.

Though he and the team would love to win their own tournament, O’Connor is looking at the tournament as more of preparation for the final two thirds of MEL play.

“We’re playing Vintage back to back next week; I’m more focused at getting back to league,” O’Connor said. “If we were to win it, it’s a bonus. Our focus is league and doing tournaments like this to prepare ourselves for league. Winning the tournament would be nice, but that doesn’t get you in the playoffs.”

Napa’s first game is at 2:15 p.m. Thursday against Vallejo. It will then face Vanden and Bethel at 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Friday, respectively.

The Indians faced Vallejo in a scrimmage earlier this year. O’Connor said the Apaches have a strong pitcher and the team stands in second in the Solano County League. He added that Vanden can never be taken lightly and has a great coach and Napa can’t look past Bethel.

Vintage plays Golden Sierra at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, then Vallejo and Vanden at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, respectively.

23rd Annual Napa Easter Tournament

At Kennedy Park softball fields

Today’s Games

Vallejo vs. Christian Brothers-Sacramento, 12:30 p.m.

Vallejo vs. NAPA, 2:15 p.m.

California-San Ramon vs. Christian Brothers, 4 p.m.

VINTAGE vs. Golden Sierra-Garden Valley, 5:45 p.m.

California vs. Woodland, 5:45 p.m.

Hogan vs. Christian Brothers, 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s Games

NAPA vs. Vanden, 10 a.m.

NAPA vs. Bethel, 11:45 a.m.

Woodland vs. Hogan, 11:45 a.m.

Vanden vs. Golden Sierra, 1:30 p.m.

VINTAGE vs. Vallejo, 1:30 p.m.

Bethel vs. Woodland, 3:15 p.m.

Hogan vs. California, 3:15 p.m.

Bethel vs. Golden Sierra, 5 p.m.

VINTAGE vs. Vanden, 5 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Seed 5 vs. Seed 6, 10 a.m.

Seed 9 vs. Seed 10, 10 a.m.

Seed 7 vs. Seed 6, 11:45 a.m.

Seed 8 vs. Seed 10, 11:45 a.m.

Seed 1 vs. Seed 4, 1:30 p.m.

Seed 2 vs. Seed 3, 1:30 p.m.

Seed 7 vs. Seed 5, 3:15 p.m.

Seed 8 vs. Seed 9, 3:15 p.m.

Winners of 1/4 vs. 2/3 in championship game, 5 p.m.

Losers of 1/4 vs. 2/3 in third-place game, 5 p.m.