As soon as David Bryant tells you the record of his 2009 softball team, he’s quick to tell you, “We were better than our record.”

Playing the top teams from Classes 5A and 6A, Pleasant Valley limped to a 5-22 finish. With a dozen of those losses decided by one run, his point is more than backed up.

Well, this year, he doesn’t have to back anything up — his girls are doing it for him on the diamond.

In one weekend, Pleasant Valley proved it is better than its 2009 record kicking off its season and going 6-1 and finishing as the runner up it its own Lady Raider Classic at Woodland Park.

“Last year, the tough schedule we played and the experience we got,” Bryant said, “it made us grow up.”

With a year of experience, Pleasant Valley ripped through its competition all the way up until the championship game where it met Cherokee County and eventually fell 6-2.

In the games leading up to the title tilt, Pleasant Valley outscored its opponents 45-12, including an 18-7 drumming of Fyffe in the semifinals (its second victory over Fyffe in the tournament).

This year, Bryant will be attacking his foes with a host of capable arms to backup the aforementioned offensive onslaught.

Senior Maranda Tisdale went 3-0 in the tournament with only one walk in 11 2/3 innings. Alongside her are a pair of sophomores – lefthander Payton Lewis and Amber Cochran. Lewis did not allow an earned run in the tournament and Cochran struck out 16 batters in 14 innings of work — the most of the trio.

Maddie Tipton led the offensive charge this weekend, going 12-for-21 with a team-high 11 RBIs. Magan Strickland was 1-for-24 with five RBIs and seven runs scored. Ashley Bryant was 9-for-20 with 10 runs scored, Savannah Tant was 8-for-22 with eight runs scored and shortstop Taylor Poerter was 7-for-20 with eight RBIs and nine runs scored.

In tournament action, Pleasant Valley defeated Tarrant (17-0), Clay County (3-1), Fyffe (9-3), Hokes Bluff (4-0) and Sylvania (4-1).

Going forward, the Lady Raiders’ 2010 schedule won’t be nearly as enthusiastic, instead playing teams closer to its on classification — teams ranging mostly from 2A to 4A — with a trip to the Bob Jones Classic, hosted by the 6A school.

It will help the team from getting too beaten up and stay fresh for what Bryant calls a highly competitive area, which includes White Plains, Glencoe, Weaver and Piedmont.

With a week off for academic testing, Pleasant Valley will return to Woodland Park for another two-day tournament, Saks’ Lady Wildcat Classic.