By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

First-year Fort Hays State University softball coach Erin Kinberger paused before she discussed the Tigers' season theme: Believe.

"I am going to try to not get emotional," she said.

Kinberger, the former assistant under Julie LeMaire, took over in the summer after LeMaire left for Emporia State University. Since then, Kinberger lost first-team all-region catcher Malinee Powell, who led the team with a .393 average and nine homers, and second baseman Britney Workman (.299 average).

Kinberger called the duo leaving "definitely a surprise." Recently, junior shortstop Danie Brinkmann, an all-MIAA honorable mention selection in 2011, suffered a rotator cuff injury and then broke her leg in practice and will miss the season.

Fort Hays will open the year with 13 healthy players, a low number, with a home doubleheader Tuesday against University of Nebraska-Kearney. Game time is 2 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.

"It's rough and it's not the way anyone would want to go into it, your first year, but the biggest thing that I think that I have is that I am a believer," Kinberger said. "I am positive and I will find a way. I think that I kind of wanted the kids to know that. We might have some downs and we might have some bumps, but we are never going to quit and I am going to believe until the end."

The Tigers went 30-22, 11-11 MIAA last season and finished seventh in the conference in the regular season before they advanced to the conference tournament finals. This spring, FHSU is picked sixth in the preseason MIAA poll.

"While others might doubt us, we are never going to doubt each other and that's what's going to take us to the top," Kinberger said.

At first, the Tigers had uncertainty when LeMaire resigned June 20. Senior first baseman Adriana Wortley, a two-time all-conference and all-region selection, said "there was a sense of panic."

"Oh gosh, what are were going to do?," Wortley said. "Should we maybe think about going somewhere else? Once we heard Coach K was coming in, we were like, we are not going anywhere else. That's who we want to coach us. We wouldn't want anybody else. ... It's just been such a great thing. Just her not leaving us this year, it's probably been the best thing she could have done for us."

Kinberger, a former catcher, loves being around the sport. Known for her passion and intensity, Kinberger, even on days off, will often head to the softball field.

Kinberger knows she should take a break, but can't help herself.

"I am addicted to it," she said. "I love it."

That style is delivered to the players, too.

"She is very intimidating," Wortley said. "Literally, she scared the pants off some of the freshmen that came in this year, but as upper classmen, we continually reinforce the younger girls, (saying), 'That's just how she is, don't take it personal, that's just how she is.' "

"She will warm up to you and you will get used to her intense personality, but the way that she is intense, there is so much passion behind it and because there is so much passion, it is very contagious," she added. "She runs a very tight ship, but she cares a lot about us. You can see it every single day."

Wortley and junior pitcher/left fielder Maddie Holub are the two healthy returnees who earned all-MIAA honors last season. Holub, a Thomas More Prep-Marian product, is a two-time all-conference selection.

She posted a .313 average and went 15-8 with a 2.27 earned-run average on the mound in 2011. Holub split time with since-graduated Kayla Rupa last spring and will take over as the No. 1 pitcher this year.

"Keeping Maddie Holub in Hays, Kansas is probably the best thing that Fort Hays softball has ever done," Kinberger said.

Kinberger has always been impressed with Holub's talent. Several years ago, Kinberger caught Holub at Holub's FHSU tryout. Kinberger called the right-hander "one of a kind" and said Holub's rise ball was the best she'd ever seen from a collegiate freshman. Holub, though, went through some struggles, but has improved. Junior transfer Kaitlyn Shattleroe and freshman Abby Morrison will likely see time as the team's No. 2 pitcher.

"She is starting to realize what it is going to take for her to dominate at this level, and while I think she has dominated, I think you're going to see a performance out of her that's going to blow minds this year and her senior year, I really do," Kinberger said of Holub. "She has really developed into what I think is one of the best pitchers, if not the best pitcher in the MIAA."

At catcher, sophomore Callie Wright takes over for Powell. Wright, recruited as a catcher, played 22 games in left field last season. Kinberger called Wright's greatest strengths understanding the game and the ability to quarterback the defense and call plays.

"The day that we found out that we were going to be low number and Callie was going to have to step in, there is no panic because I believe in that kid and I believe in every single one of them," Kinberger said.

Senior Taylor Nelson will take over at second base; Kinberger said Nelson has the potential to be better than Workman. Sophomore Kellsi Olsen will take over for Brinkmann at shortstop.

Junior Chelsey Rottinghaus will play third base. Junior Breanna Beckerman will be in right field, freshman Amanda Vaupel will be in center, and Holub and freshman Madison Putman will be in left. Senior Christine Moses is in the mix at designated hitter for a team that, despite several struggles, still believes it can have a successful season.

"If we believe, all things are possible, that's just kind of really struck home for us, I think as a group," Kinberger said. "We are determined that when our cleats hit the dirt this year, no matter who the opponent is, the ultimate goal is to come out with a 'W' in the book, no matter how we do this and it might not be pretty and it might be a knife-fight."