Last year the Auburn Riverside fastpitch squad fell one game shy in its quest for the postseason.

With a trip to the district tournament on the line, the Ravens failed to win a South Puget Sound League North 4A fifth-place tiebreaker, falling 5-4 to Kentwood and ending their season.

The loss didn’t sit well with Hannah Melick.

“We almost made it (to districts) last year, but lost to Kentwood, which sucked,” said the University of Oregon-bound senior.

Although Melick’s performance at shortstop for the Ravens last season was stellar – earning her an All-SPSL North first-team nod – personal accolades didn’t do much to lessen the blow of ending the season short of the postseason.

That’s why this season Melick has stepped into a leadership role with her team, fully embracing her co-captaincy and committing to lead the Ravens to the playoffs.

“Hannah’s pretty amazing,” Riverside coach Christine Leverenz said. “She’s really evolved over the last four years. She’s evolved from this really shy kid who just wants to play ball and be great at it, but not necessarily be the person who leads or takes that responsibility. But she has really evolved into a leader this year.”

For Melick, who also plays club ball for the LadyHawks, it’s simply a matter of stepping up to help the team win.

“Being a senior, I just really want to win this year,” Melick said. “I really want our season to go well. And they (the team) kind of look up to me, so I want to perform at the highest level I can.”

So far this season Melick is firing on all cylinders, boasting a torrid .727 batting average, with 16 RBIs and six home runs, as off April 15. Melick has compiled a 1.760 slugging average and has notched two doubles and three triples, helping the Ravens to a 4-3 record so far this year.

In a three-game stretch during the week of March 20-26, Melick went 8-for-11 with a double, three triples, three homers and nine RBIs, earning her Washington Interscholastic Activities Association/Seattle Times Athlete of the Week honors.

“She’s made a difference this year,” Leverenz said. “I thought I had some good hitters in Amanda Fitzsimmons and Kelley Kaneshiro back in the day, kids who are still doing great at another level. But she is one of the best hitters that I’ve ever seen.

“I wouldn’t have said that about her last year, but I think she’s grown into it this year,” she continued. “I think it may have been just a mental thing last year. But this year we don’t have to worry about that. She just steps in there, very confident.”

Leverenz added that Melick’s commitment to play ball at Oregon next year may have contributed to her relaxed mental state this season.

“She’s not playing with a ton of pressure this year,” she said. “I think knowing where you’re going to school does that.”

And with Melick’s leadership, Leverenz is confident that the Ravens can make it out of the SPSL North 4A and on to the postseason.

The Ravens lost four seniors from last year’s squad, but feature a strong core of returners, including All-SPSL North 4A first-team outfielder Ashley Mundo, a co-captain this year.

“Our centerfielder is amazing,” Leverenz said. “And our defense is great. My whole infield is seniors.”

In addition to Melick at shortstop, Auburn Riverside has Shelden Doyle – the team’s third co-captain – at first base, Ashley Fraser at second and Jamie Koenig at third.

Offensively the Ravens are solid as well, averaging nearly five runs a game, with juniors Breanna Clark and Alyssa Jarman in the SPSL North 4A top 10 in RBIs with eight and six, respectively.

“I feel like if we can get our battery healthy, if our pitching can get healthy, we definitely have the hitting to back them up,” Leverenz said. “Some people are going to score runs on us. We just need to battle at the plate. But I think that’s true of everybody this year.

“With the mound going back to 43 feet, there is not anybody who’s really dominant. The bottom line is it’s going to be a hitter’s game.”

The Ravens are leaning on sophomore pitcher Brenna Tsujikawa to hold the line in the circle until Jarman and senior Jamie Koenig get healthy enough to start eating up some innings for the Ravens.

The real key for the team has been the chemistry and attitude.

“I love my team. They’ve evolved and grown up a lot since last year,” Leverenz said. “There was a little salt in the wound from that Kentwood game last year, that last game out. But back then it was a different feel. I don’t think it mattered as much to them. When you become seniors, it all starts to matter.”

The Ravens host Kentridge at 4 p.m. today at Game Farm Park.