The stiff wind blew in from centerfield, and the rain, at first a drizzle, began to intensify.

As the short-lived front moved through Eastern Hanover County Friday evening, those in attendance at the Glen Allen-at-Atlee softball game quickly opened their umbrellas, donned their rain jackets, scrambled for cover, or simply braved the elements.

Out on the diamond, the Jaguars and home team Raiders, undaunted by the conditions, played on.

Glen Allen ultimately prevailed 10-5, and, though the score might suggest otherwise, the victory did not come easily.

Coach Stu Brown’s crew is the defending VHSL, Class 6 champion, you see, and, with seven starters returning, knows full well that each time out, it will get its opponent’s absolute best effort.

The Raiders, with an underclass-laden lineup, were intent on delivering it.

“We don’t let the pressure get to us at all,” said senior catcher Ava Cunningham. “Ever since I was young, my dad (Johnnie) has preached the Michael Jordan mentality to me: when you step on this field, you’re the best on this field. 

“I feel that’s applicable here because every team we play wants to go at us 100 percent. I preach that (mantra) to the team because you have to believe that nobody can beat you.”

The Raiders (0-1) believed otherwise.

Four innings in, the score was 2-2.

Then, in the top of the fifth, the Jaguars (3-0) scored four runs on four hits and appeared to be in command.

McKenzie Mayfield led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, Ila Goding followed with a walk, and Jaidyn Tillman singled to left to load the bases.

Caroline Jessie then drilled a double to left centerfield scoring Mayfield and Goding and moving Tillman to third.

With no outs still, Heidi Gill singled to right scoring Tillman and moving Jessie to third. Cunningham followed with a single to left driving Jessie home to give the visitors a 6-2 lead.

Was the Jags’ big inning the result of the Michael Jordan mindset, which has become part of their team culture?

“One hundred percent,” Cunningham said. “A lot of what we talk about regards what we can control and what we can’t control. How we move forward, stay up, and win the game is entirely in our control.”

The Raiders, though significantly down, were hardly out.

Freshman second baseman Landry May, the No. 9 hitter, led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left center field and moved to third when Camdyn Metts reached base on an infield error.

Sophomore shortstop Karsen Harrell followed with a line-shot double to right to score May and Metts and moved to third when Shannon McKeever reached base on another infield error.

Natalie Sponaugle followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Harrell and trim the Jags’ lead to 6-5.

How did Glen Allen respond?

“Just quality at bats,” Brown said. “That’s the biggest thing. We grind out at bats. We force the opposing team to play defense. We practice hard and play hard with a lot of energy and effort. We’re mentally and physically tough. Our biggest thing is that we play to the last out.”

The Jags added an insurance run in the sixth when Goding, who had reached first on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on Tillman’s single, scored on an infield error.

They scored thrice more in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Makenzie Hueston singled to center and moved to third on Mayfield’s double to left.

Goding’s single scored Heuston. Tillman’s single up the middle scored Mayfield and Goding.

“We always have to be in control,” Cunningham said. “We can’t let them beat us. We have to stay positive.  

“The rain threw everybody off. Nobody expected the weather, but that’s out of our control. We can only control how we focus, how we lock in, how we rise ... and win.”

Tillman, a senior righthander with a 66-mile-per-hour fastball, delivered 100 pitches (68 for strikes), allowed six hits and two earned runs, struck out seven, and walked none.

“My curve ball was very effective,” she said. “It was a lot speedier than usual. It was throwing off batters. When you’re up in the count, that curve ball is what gets the K.”

Still, the Raiders, plucky and resilient, wouldn’t go away.

“We’re the state champs, but we’re the underdog,” said Tillman, a LeMoyne College signee. “Nobody owes us anything. We won’t get a cakewalk from anybody. We have to dig deep no matter who we’re playing. 

“That’s where we have to face adversity, don’t fear it, and embrace it.”