By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

Sixth-year Warrior softball coach Jennifer Felvus isn’t one that sits around worrying.

Despite losing a trio of all-league performers from last season’s 12-9 team that suffered a 13-1 first-round regional knockout by Lyons, Felvus won’t have it.

Considering she’s got perhaps her youngest team to date, they’re not exactly a batch of greenhorns as the returners are experienced.

Just a few tweaks and some retooling and she’s confident her team will hold its own against all comers.

“I’m just not a person that worries a whole lot,” Felvus said. “I’d expect us to be offensively strong, and be able to compete with just about anybody.

“Overall, our team chemistry will be a strength for us. Our girls are very team-oriented, caring for each other and we’re a very unselfish team. That works well in softball.”

While Felvus has enjoyed the luxury of a team fielding 24 to 28 players, that won’t be the case this year with the numbers dwindling to 20.

Although it’s a young team, the Warriors are athletic and have the offensive firepower that should make them a force to be reckoned with.

Felvus and the Warriors have been preparing for the day without the pitcher-catcher tandem of Shelby Felvus and Paige May, respectively, along with Taylor May on the corner at third base and Taelyn Pagel in the outfield.

Six starters return, and quickly there to fill the void on the mound is sophomore Grace Overton, who along with a triple freshmen threat, give Felvus the most depth at pitcher she’s had.

“It’s a young staff, but it’s actually the most depth I’ve ever had on the mound,” she said. “This is maybe the smallest team I’ve had in numbers, but if somebody gets hurt, I don’t believe it puts us in a bind of not having someone who can step in.”

Back to bolster the infield is honorable mention senior Kourtney Hansen, whose athleticism makes her a strength both offensively and defensively, giving Felvus a mean 1-2 punch along with junior Corrina Crabb.

Alli Molleker, Bailey Baker, Crabb, Lindsey Sigel, and Tori Shults didn’t start every game last season, but still saw enough action to register as full time.

Virtually the entire Warrior roster is comprised of players able to produce everywhere, leaving Felvus open to possibilities.

Crabb’s speed, experience, and work ethic figure to make Marion’s outfield its biggest strength defensively.

“We’ll see some mix-up in the field every now and then because we’ve got a lot of girls that can certainly contribute,” said Felvus.

Sigel’s one of the Warriors best hitters, and there’s plenty more with the potential to wreak havoc on opponents’ pitching.

The Warriors kick off their season March 27 at home against Council Grove.