By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

When Julie LeMaire took over the Fort Hays State University softball program last season, she expected to have a young roster in 2010. The Tigers retained just five players, including three regulars, from a 31-33 team last spring. This year, FHSU has two seniors, six freshmen, five junior college transfers and a new infield.

"We are going to have ride the road of being young for a little bit," LeMaire said. "I think, in time, it is going to be the best thing. It might be a rough year, which is sad for the seniors and for the upperclassmen. But I still think we are sitting better than even potentially a year ago in terms of our talent and our makeup."

The Tigers, ranked eighth in the preseason Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association poll, will start their season Friday with a doubleheader at Regis (Colo.) University. Game time is 11 a.m.

The Tigers' home opener is Feb. 19, when they play host to a tournament.

"I have no doubt that we can compete with the rest of the teams that are in our conference and compete with the girls that we are playing this weekend because we do have the talent to win games and go far," junior pitcher/outfielder Kayla Rupa said. "It's just a matter of them stepping up to the challenge."

Fort Hays' lone returning starters are Rupa, junior center fielder Sara Tani and senior pitcher/outfielder Adrian Mohr. They have all played since their freshman year and have helped the young players this spring.

"We've talked to them about how we grew up," Tani said. "Coming into college is such a big step that it can be scary for sure."

A slap hitter, Tani improved her batting average by over 140 points and earned first-team all-MIAA honors in 2009 after she hit a team-high .346 and set school records with 82 hits and 237 at-bats. While most slappers are singles hitters, Tani is a power slapper who hit 14 doubles last season and nearly homered.

"I had never seen myself as kind of a power hitter, but I kind of owned that last year," Tani said. "Hopefully, with maybe a little bit of hard work, maybe we can see something again this year."

"She is probably the only one that I will ever let slap unless there is another one like her that comes along," LeMaire said. "... She can slap the ball to the fence. I think she can probably slap it over the fence. She can slap like my kids hit just standing in there."

The left-handed Rupa earned all-MIAA honorable mention honors after she went 17-18 with a 3.42 earned-run average and shattered school records for innings pitched (225), strikeouts (190) and complete games (28). In addition, she hit .290 and started every game. LeMaire called Rupa's arm "never ending."

"Growing up playing ball, I've always been relied on," Rupa said. "Having to pitch game after game. I am used to it. I have a feeling that it will start catching up to me eventually, but I am hoping that it will hold out for these next two seasons."

Mohr, the team's second pitcher, produced a 13-13 record, 3.84 ERA and a .307 batting average in 2009. She will play left field when not pitching. Freshman Alicia Hammeke, a two-time all-state player at Thomas More Prep-Marian, junior Erin Kinsey and sophomore Caleigh Duran are reserve outfielders.

Freshman Maddie Holub, a four-time all-state player at TMP-Marian, will see plenty of innings and will be in the everyday lineup. Holub, who set multiple Kansas high school single-season and career records, will play middle infield when not pitching.

"She is going to be a lineup kid, no matter what," LeMaire said. "She is definitely going to be in there. She is going to see a lot of pitching time. She will see a lot of defensive time and then also making sure we keep her in the lineup is going to be important.

"What gives Maddie the offensive edge is she is so aggressive. She is not letting any pitch go by that is close to the plate. When she sees something coming at her, she is on it and I think with that aggressive edge, she doesn't think a lot about it. She gets in there and she just really swings the heck out of the bat," LeMaire added.

Sophomore Christine Moses, a Mesa (Ariz.) Community College transfer, and freshman Britney Workman have seen time at third base. Freshman Tricia Holzman will play shortstop. Holzman has improved her range since coming to FHSU.

"She has almost transformed into a whole new player," LeMaire said. "Defensively, I think she can really make an impact."

Junior Brandi Tregre is a utility infielder. First base is unsettled with senior infielder Traci Doty, a Pratt Community College product, and sophomore Adriana Wortley, also from Mesa, in the mix. Freshman Malinee Powell is the lone catcher on the roster.

"As far as the group that we do have, I think we are sitting in a good direction for the future. We have some great freshmen in," LeMaire said.