Replacing three seniors who combined for a .400 batting average should be no problem for coach Hardwick.
Five sluggers are ready to swing away: junior Grace Apgar (.418), senior Tara Pennycuff, juniors Amelia Walters (.417) and pitcher Bethany Dailey (.391) and sophomore Avery Shingleton (.389).
Pennycuff and classmate Emma Manship are co-captains. Freshman Morgan Haynes also brings power.
“The bats look great,” Hardwick said. “We are not going to have any problems scoring runs at all. We have more power than last year.”
The Cougars also have speed on the bases and should be solid defensively.
Dailey leads a mound corps that does not have any seniors.
Hardwick emphasized that the team already has jelled and primed to compete for conference and sectional trophies.