WHITTEMORE-PRESCOTT - April, 2005 - The Whittemore-Prescott softball team enters the 2005 season with a new challenge: seeking a North East Michigan Conference championship for the first time since leaving the league in the late 1980s.

Of course, that won't be easy with the powerhouse Pinconning squad lurking down the road, but the Cards figure to be in the mix of contenders despite fielding a young squad.

Last season, the team used an infusion of young talent to bounce back from a 9-23 mark in 2003 to a 26-14 mark.

"Not bad when you consider the team started both a freshman pitcher and third baseman last season," says W-P coach Sam Harrison.

Now sophomores, all-district performer Theresa Janish (13 wins, 1.22 ERA, 161 strikeouts in 120 innings) and all-regional selection Kaylon Leslie (6 home runs, 13 doubles, 57 runs, 46 RBIs and a .460 batting average) give the Cards high hopes for further improvement.

Junior pitcher / second baseman Kelli Barriger gives W-P a second quality pitcher, with numbers (13 wins, 116 strikeouts) on par with Janish while earning all-district and all-region honors at second base.

Other returning starters include fourth-year varsity player Annalise Gordon (.288 average, 13 sacrifice bunts), first baseman Melissa Perrin (.310, 29 RBIs) and third-year catcher Sarah Leslie (.268, 21 RBIs).