Most of King’s Fork’s lineup going into the upcoming softball season looks the same as last spring. A lot of those returning Lady Bulldogs will still be in the lineup come Spring 2012.

This makes Lady Bulldog head coach Richard Froemel confident in many aspects of his team as the high school season approaches in a little over a week.

“I’ve got a very good core of girls, especially the group of juniors we have,” Froemel said Wednesday evening after a scrimmage against Bethel.

One area where the Lady Bulldogs enter the season without much varsity experience is the one position that has the ball on every play.

For four straight seasons, from 2006-09, the Lady Bulldogs had very few questions about who would get the ball in the circle nearly every game. Lindsey Holloman was an all-district pitcher for KF and is now an infielder in her second season at UNC-Charlotte.

KF is entering the second straight season with pitchers new to this level of play. New to softball though? Hardly.

In what’s the rule for most high school softball squads rather than an exception, Froemel said nearly all of his varsity players are playing with travel or select squads almost year-round.

“They’ve all got a very good work ethic. I know they’re always working hard. They’re self-motivated. They’re good about coaching themselves a lot of the time,” Froemel said.

“If they see a flaw in something another teammate’s doing, they share it with them and everyone takes it well. No one takes it as ‘you’re trying to pick on me’ or anything like that,” he said.

Chelsea Holchek, who spent a little time on the varsity squad near the end of last season, and Brittany Raynor, who also pitched on King’s Fork’s JV team last spring, divided up the pitching over the seven innings against Bethel Wednesday.

The Lady Bulldogs go well down their lineup and take care of each infield spot except pitcher with returning veterans. Infielders Nicki Cuevas, Monica Logwood, Jennifer Delucia and Kristen Moore, along with center fielder Megan Blythe and catcher Taylor Davis mean the Lady Bulldogs are a year older and a year better at many spots on the field.

“Offensively is going to be our strength and we’re going to have to score more runs,” Froemel said. “We’re very capable of doing that. Every girl in our order hits the ball hard.”

Moore, at first base, could be considered an addition to the squad as well, even while she’s a senior.

“She’s had to go through two shoulder surgeries in the last two to three years,” Froemel said. “She’s a good leader for the team. She has a strong attitude and works hard.”

The Lady Bulldogs went 9-11 overall last season. There won’t be a chance to ease into the regular season as KF hosts Nansemond River on Tuesday, March 15 to open the campaign for both teams. Along with being city rivals, the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Warriors have usually been close competitors in the district standings through the past few years.

King’s Fork softball 2011 schedule

Games start at 5:30 p.m. unless noted, home games are in CAPS

March

• Tues. 15 NANSEMOND RIVER
• Wed. 16 CHURCHLAND (4:30 p.m.)
• Fri. 18 at Deep Creek
• Tues. 22 LAKELAND
• Fri. 25 GRASSFIELD
• Tues. 29 at Western Branch
• Wed. 30 TALLWOOD (4:30 p.m.)

April

• Fri. 1 OSCAR SMITH
• Tues. 5 INDIAN RIVER
• Fri. 8 at Great Bridge
• Tues. 12 at Hickory
• Thurs. 14 at Nansemond River
• Tues. 26 DEEP CREEK
• Fri. 29 at Lakeland

May

• Tues. 3 at Grassfield
• Fri. 6 WESTERN BRANCH
• Tues. 10 at Oscar Smith
• Fri. 13 at Indian River
• Mon. 16 GREAT BRIDGE
• Wed. 18 HICKORY