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Prayer is a mainstay for the Northview Lady Chiefs.

Prior to every game, each player will pray individually with another, and then the whole team will say a prayer before the first pitch is thrown.

The Lady Chiefs will be doing so again on May 20 as they’ll face Branford in the FHSAA Class Rural state semifinal. First pitch is slated for noon EST at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Fla. NHS enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Shortstop Riley Brooks said practice has gone well this week as there has been high spirit and energy.

“I think we’re ready,” Brooks said.

Pitcher and left fielder Jamison Gilman said the team is staying humble, but they’re excited to get down there.

“We know we have an opportunity we may not have again,” Gilman said.

This will be the first time in program history the Lady Chiefs will make an appearance in the state tournament.

Gilman said practices have been quick and easy, but different.

“This is a different game, but a bigger game,” she said. “We need to prepare mentally. We know we have the skill. Practice helps, but at this point, it’s a mental thing.”

“We all have the skills, but it’s about who shows up in practices,” Brooks added. “The little things our community is doing, everybody is pumped and ready.”

In fact, residents are encouraged to line the streets to send the Lady Chiefs off on Sunday morning at 7.

Avery Stuckey, who plays at first base, said the team’s faith has really helped.

“I feel like once we know, and even if we don’t come out with the outcome we wanted, we know we played to the best of our ability,” Stuckey said. “We know we’re living out His will.”

Daviona Randolph, who plays right field, said they’re just worried about themselves, and not the opponent.

Center fielder Kylee Langham said it’s going to be a battle from here on out.

“We know at the end of the day, we have God on our side,” Langham said.

Gilman said a constant prayer is to ask God to take the nerves away, and to give them favor and to be able to excel.

“A lot of it is not even us, it’s just us trusting in Him,” Gilman said.

Brooks said she believes the team’s faith has carried them this far.

“We’ll go as far as he lets us,” Brooks said.