Over a four-week span, starting with a 4-3 win against Penn Hills April 15, the McKeesport softball team accomplished enough for an entire season.

Make that nearly an entire four seasons.

The Tigers (13-6, 11-4) won all nine games they played during that time frame to close out the regular season, including posting a 7-0 record in Section 2-AAAA play, taking second place in the section behind Kiski Area (12-5, 12-3) and qualifying for the WPIAL playoffs.

"We've definitely had an exceptional season," McKeesport coach Robin Johnston said. "Especially the last nine games."

But while such a run would be the envy of any team in the area, it is most impressive for McKeesport when the program's recent history is considered. To put the nine-game winning streak in perspective, consider this: McKeesport had won only 14 total games and nine section games in the previous four seasons combined.

McKeesport's season came to an abrupt finish on Tuesday, however, as the Tigers lost to Trinity, 9-0, in a first-round WPIAL Class AAAA playoff game. That was the Tigers' first postseason contest since the 2003 season.

"It's very exciting," senior second baseman Caitlyn Malacki said. "It's a big accomplishment for us. It's definitely nice and a good sense of achievement, not only from making the playoffs for the first time since [2003] but also competing so well in such a good section."

McKeesport's emergence into a legitimate contender is the culmination of the advent of a feeder program at the junior high level a few years back that is bearing its first fruit in players such as sophomores Brooke Hammerstrom and Nikki Bills.

"Now I'm not just getting kids in ninth grade who have only played slow-pitch," Johnston said. "Kids who join the team have gone through that program and are ready to step in."

Johnston, who is in her third season as head coach of the Tigers and is in her fifth season with the program, was instrumental in the development of the junior high team. Malacki said Johnston has poured herself into McKeesport softball.

"It's been more exciting for us to take her with us," Malacki said. "She's been with us through thick and thin and through all those losses before. And now we know what we're achieving is pleasing for her."

Johnston returns that admiration to her players, particularly the senior class. That group includes Malacki, shortstop Tiffany Fichera, designated hitters Christina Munshower and Stephanie Suskey, third baseman Lacie Kondrosky and utility player Jocelyn Dunlay.

Malacki and Fichera are the team's No. 3 and cleanup hitters, respectively, and have been among the Tigers' offensive standouts.

Johnston said those two and Munshower have shown themselves as leaders.

"They chemistry with our team is pretty exceptional," Johnston said. "The perseverance of our team has been amazing. The seniors have been with the program the past four years, and they stuck it out and hung in there through everything."

The contributions offensively and defensively from the seniors aside, it was a sophomore, pitcher Jenna Dunlay, who has played perhaps the biggest role in McKeesport's success.

Dunlay pitched in every game for the Tigers this season, posting 139 strikeouts during the regular season. Johnston said she was impressed with the way Dunlay worked hard in the offseason on improving her skills.

"We just had to work on her control and footwork and basic mechanics," Johnston said. "And once it was all put together, she came out on top. That's where she's been."

But she hasn't been the only underclassman to make significant contributions. Center fielder Bills had the highest batting average on the team in the regular season. Junior left fielder Lynsey Syzmarek bats second in the order, junior first baseman Taylor Dowden fifth, catcher Hammerstrom sixth and junior right fielder Alisha Sawders eighth.

Considering this season's team is so reliant on juniors and sophomores, McKeesport has the look of a team that is anything but a one-year wonder during this renaissance season.

"I definitely think this is going to help give the program a kick-start," Malacki said.