Anytime your team returns the entire starting lineup, it’s generally a good thing for the upcoming season.

That’s exactly the situation with the Paden City Lady Wildcats and Head Coach Penny Baker couldn’t be happier.

“It’s extremely important to have everybody back,” said Baker. “We didn’t have to start over this year. It’s real nice. We kind of just picked up where we left off last year.”

Once again, Kim Davis will be the lead pitcher and one of the seniors on the team who can be counted on for leadership.

Catching duties will go to Vicki Yurisko. Lining the rest of the infield will be Courtney Conaway at first base, Ashley Efaw at second base, Alli Bertozzi at shortstop, and Sydney Frye at third base.

In the outfield, Stephanie West will take the seven position at left field. Amber Palmer will take centerfield and Angelica Phillips controls right field.

In addition to all that experience, seven other team members will compete for playing.

They include Talesia Dawson, Katie Kline, Bethany Arnett, Kelsey Loub, Leanne Butcher, Johanna Simon and

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Dominique Craft.

Butcher and Loub will see time in the circle as other pitchers in the rotation, while Craft will compete for time behind the plate as catcher. Dawson, Kline and Simon are choices for the outfield, while Arnett could play either the hot corner or in the outfield.

Offensively, strong bats should come from the likes of Yurisko, Bertozzi, Davis, Conaway and Palmer.

Last season, the Lady ‘Cats upset their rival Valley in a sectional playoff game. Hopes are that they will be in decent position to win the sectional championship this year.

“We’ve got everybody back,” said Baker. “We didn’t lose anyone, so we’ve got a lot of game experience. We’re hopeful to go pretty far. We have a pretty good shot at the sectional this year. We are returning the most experienced team in our section.”

The Lady ‘Cats start off the season today at Williamstown before traveling to Kidwell to take on the Lady Silver Knights of Tyler Consolidated in what is rapidly becoming a rivalry game.

Consolidated will make the return trip to Paden City on Tuesday, April 14. Paden City’s home opener won’t take place until Tuesday, March 24, when they welcome the Lady Bishops Donahue to the Paden City parks.