DEXTER --Dexter softball coach Starla Pulley likes her team's depth and athleticism as the first pitch nears for the upcoming season.
"We have a lot of the same girls coming back (from last year's 7-13 team), but they're a year older and a year stronger," Pulley said. "We worked together all summer. That kind of builds a fire in them to want to come out and work hard and play hard.
"When you have a group of freshmen coming up who have some athletic ability, that kind of puts a little more pressure on ... it adds more depth to your team. Makes everyone work harder."
The Bearcats open the season at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bloomfield.
Senior Lauryn Davis, who signed to play softball at Mineral Area College during the offseason, will provide leadership, even though she is changing positions this season. She is moving from the outfield to catcher.
"She's got a great arm and is a fierce competitor," Pulley said. "She's not afraid to throw the ball. I think that makes people think twice about running. She's got to get a little more confident with it. She hasn't played there in quite some time. She's already improved and she's a hard worker."
Davis replaces junior Kelby Hill, who had moved to the outfield for this season.
Chaylea Mosby, one of three returning juniors, will anchor the infield.
"She has a good glove at third base," Pulley said. "Her reflexes are just so quick. She's quick. Her hand-and-eye coordination at the plate, she's someone to be reckoned with, too."
Junior Demi Cecil, a solid defender, will play second base.
Kelsey Carrier, one of three returning sophomores, will anchor the pitching staff.
"She is having some slight shoulder problems, so we're having to baby that and take care of it so she can last the season," Pulley said. "There's lot of things she can and can't do, so we're trying to work with her. She's a fierce competitor. If she can play, she's going to be out there. She's going to do her best to get the job done. She's working hard in the gym, trying to switch her pitches up more and throw more of a variety of pitches."
Utility player Mallory Dunlap and outfielder Annie Slaton are the other returning sophomores.
Sydney Asbury and Mekenzie Yount lead a talented freshman class.
Asberry will be the team's primary shortstop.
"Asberry's coming in with a lot of travel experience. She's a fierce competitor," Pulley said. "She's not very big but she can hit the ball. She's quick and has good range at shortstop."
Yount is the team's likely center fielder.
"That girl is an athlete," Pulley said. "She is so quick. That's one thing about our team this year. Our outfielder will have three girls who are all fast. I think that'll be huge in our favor. They'll cover lots of area."
Cecil and Hill will be table setters for the lineup. Both transitioned into slap hitters last season. Hill is the team's top returning hitter with her .370 average.
"If you look at our lineup, we have more speed than in the four years that I've been here," Pulley said. "Looking forward to more aggressive base running, taking those extra bases when we can get them."
Davis and Dunlap will likely bat in run-producing spots in the lineup.
Davis shared the team lead in RBIs last season. She and graduate Kaylee Carey each drove in 15 runs.
Dunlap batted .276 last season with 11 RBIs. Both stats were third-best of the team.
"Mallory played a little bit here and there for us last year. This year, I don't know if I have a spot, but she'll be in the lineup everyday," Pulley said. "It just depends on what we need for that game. I see her role as being a triangle with our pitchers between first base and shortstop."
Pulley believes the Bearcats will be a solid hitting team.
"If our girls put bat to ball, they have power and they can put some zing behind the ball," Pulley said. "It's nice to have four or five girls who can be in the four, five and six spots."
Cecil and Asberry will be the team's second and third options on the mound, which will be backed by an improved defense, the coach said.
Pulley said that the Bearcats are more athletic this season.
"We're quicker," Pulley said. "We have more speed, more agility at the plate. Quicker bats, quicker offense and quicker defense will make a big difference. We're striving for a .500 season or better."