To anyone who saw OLSH's softball team last year, this year's team will look similar in a lot of places.

The hope is that the results are similar, too.

WPIAL quarterfinalists with a 15-5 record a year ago, the Chargers enter this season with the look of a team that can let veteran pitching carry it back to the playoffs in 2008.

"We have all three of our pitchers back, and that's going to be solid," OLSH coach Bill Wills said.

Two of those pitchers, senior Emily Kyrargyros and junior Darian Ouzts, gave OLSH a strong 1-2 combination last year, while the third, sophomore Alyssa Petrella, looks to be OLSH's go-to pitcher in the future and a capable relief arm in the present.

While the team has to replace some quality hitting after losing Kylen Plocinik and Kara Hertzberg to graduation, the biggest spot for OLSH to fill in the field is behind the plate, a spot that belonged for years to Danielle Nardozzi, another of '07's seniors.

Taking the job is sophomore Becky Christiansen, who is learning the position on the fly to keep her strong hitting in the everyday lineup.

"Both (Kyrargyros and Ouzts) have been around fast-pitch a long time," Wills said.

"They're pulling Becky along under their wing. It's just a matter of her gaining experience."

With a number of freshmen battling for spots in the lineup, the offensive leadership will come from Christiansen, Ouzts and junior first baseman Amanda Taylor, at least for the start of the year.

The hope, of course, is that the middle of the lineup and the shortstop position will be bolstered by the return of junior Devin McGrath from illness, which has kept her sidelined for the last six weeks.

"We're waiting for her to come back," Wills said. "We're just waiting for her to get clearance."

"She's going to be a big part of our team, and we hope within a couple of weeks she'll be back to practicing."

OLSH's season will start without McGrath, however, beginning with a Section 3-A home game against Avonworth scheduled for today at 4 p.m.