The Eisenhower Eagles’ 9-7 win over the Stevenson Titans on Wednesday afternoon was an encapsulation of what both teams are right now — and where they plan to go.

Neither squad was perfect. The Titans made one error and the Eagles made two, and the squads combined to walk 18 hitters.

But both teams also made several routine and even some challenging plays, showed discipline at the plate and had impressive stretches.

That’ll happen — Stevenson is returning just three players from last year’s varsity team, and Eisenhower started three players who were playing their first-ever softball game.

“The jitters were there, and they found it,” said Eisenhower coach Kar Kilburn, who served as the head coach on Wednesday in the absence of Bob Hall.

Stevenson loaded the bases in the first inning but couldn’t score. They didn’t waste their next opportunity — with two runners on and two outs, Riley Maul smacked a line drive single and, when catcher Ava VanWambeke fired a throw into left field after an unsuccessful play at the plate, another run came across.

Another error on the next play put the Titans up 3-0.

“They learned that nobody’s going to yell at them, nobody’s going to get mad at them, and you know, you’re going to do one thing good and one thing bad, and we just hope that the good things keep building on each other,” Kilburn said.

The third inning demonstrated one of Eisenhower’s strengths: Anna Bellomo. She struck out the side in the top then clocked a two-run home run in the bottom to draw within one.

Now a sophomore, she stepped into a major role as a freshman and naturally reprised that this season.

“Last year she came in as a very quiet freshman,” Kilburn said. “It took a little bit to get her to open up. And you know, her work over the summer, during the winter months, she’s come in as a leader now on the team versus the young new player, and so that’s been really helpful. Half our team is new. So having a sophomore kind of take on a more leadership role, not just in her level of play, but being more vocal, and finding like that comfort level on the team has helped our newer players kind of step up and learn from her as well.”

The Eagles’ kept the pressure on in the fourth. After Stevenson pitcher Mikayla Ciesluk walked the bases loaded, a wild pitch scored one then an error on the same hitter brought across the other two.

It was a short sequence, but it’s one that comes with the trials of Francesca Madonna’s first season as the Titans head coach leading a squad that had just three returners.

“When you see that as a coach, it’s kind of like ‘we have a lot to work on,’” Madonna, who was on longtime head coach Tony Misuraca’s staff last season, said.

“A lot to do, a lot to work on, a lot to work for. And so I think when we have that mindset that nothing’s given, you have to earn everything. It kind of drives our whole program.”

The Titans embodied that mindset in the seventh inning. After another lopsided inning in the bottom of the sixth, Stevenson trailed 9-3. But in their last at bats, they drew three walks, took a hit by pitch and hit two singles, getting all the way back to 9-7 with the tying run on base.

That kind of fight is why Madonna is confident that the team will continue to build and why they expect to shock some people.

“We can keep building,” Madonna said. “This can get all the way to districts. You know, that’s what we’re aiming for. We’re aiming for a good season, first of all, but when we get to districts, that we are full grown. We’re ready for that. … Nobody’s expecting us to do anything. So we’re trying to keep going like that.”

Grace Toon, one of three returners with Ciesluk and Sierra Savage, went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Ciesluk earned the loss, throwing a complete game with five hits, eight earned runs and eight strikeouts but 11 walks.

Riley Maul paced Stevenson’s offense with three hits, two RBIs and two runs.

Both teams will continue to work on their shortcomings while honing their strengths.

For Eisenhower, it’s about getting communication and interpersonal relationships more consistent.

“I always say the easiest way to get girls to be quiet is to hit a ball between them,” Kilburn said. “And they’re trying. They’re learning quickly that the more they have a bond with each other off the field, that will carry on the field. So taking those different personalities with our captains kind of big sistering them in every game, it’s getting better. Our dugout is getting louder.”

Bellomo went 3-for-4 with three RBIs with 12 strikeouts on the mound in 6.2 innings of work. She allowed five earned runs and walked seven.

Rease Buza reached base three times, scored twice and got the final out of the game.

Like Stevenson, Eisenhower is ready to be a pleasant surprise.

“I think we’re gonna surprise some people just with how well we are playing, but also surprise people with how we end the season with our growth,” Kilburn said.