Coaches: Sam and Walt Harrison

2007 Season: 28-10 (9-3, 3rd place NEMC); district champion

Returning players: Julie Janish, sr., P/C; Sharesse King, sr., SS/C; Ashleigh Schulte, sr., 3B; Samantha Stachlewicz, sr., IF/OF; Cortney Bork, so.,C/SS; Kelsey Sievers, so., OF.

New to varsity: Allison Schulte, jr.; Ashley Tanner, jr.; Heidi Killingbeck, jr.; Chelsea Jasman, so.; Nicole Tanner, so.; Jordan Maxwell, fr.

Outlook: The Cardinals will be a different team this season as five seniors were lost to graduation, including four-year starters Theresa Janish and Kaylon Leslie.

“We are young,” says W-P coach Sam Harrison. “(We'll be) carrying four sophomores and one freshman on our varsity team. I expect us to start out slow with a lot of learning taking place in practice and games.”

The cupboard is hardly bare, however, as five girls who were starting at the end of the season are back.

Julie Janish takes over for her older sister as the team's primary hurler. Last season she ran up a 9-2 record in the pitching circle. She's also the team's leading returning hitter after batting .382 with 48 RBIs and scoring 45 runs in 2007.

Sharesse King, who played shortstop in spot last season, take over there full time. She hit .308 with 33 RBIs. Fellow senior Ashleigh Schulte (.261, 22 RBIs) returns to third base.

Sophomore Cortney Bork, who started in the outfield as a freshman, takes over at catcher (where Janish spent most of last season).

“She already seems much more confident and aggressive,” Harrison says.

Kelsey Sievers took over a starting outfield spot for the last three weeks of 2007 and proved she could hit varsity pitching in the stint, batting .318.

With Tawas and Pinconning looking in the pre-season like they are a level above the rest off the NEMC, the Cards will primarily focus on being tournament-ready by the end of the season.

“I expect us to field a competitive team when district play comes around,” Harrison says. “I'm pleased with our work ethic in practice so far.”