Last year’s Plains Trotters softball team was like a tale of two teams. They opened the season losing six straight before picking up a win against Troy.

Things got way better the rest of the season as they won six of their last nine games, a streak that propelled them to the state Class B tournament in Anaconda.

The 2023 team, which featured hard-nosed players like Carlie Wagoner, Maddy Blood and pitcher Piper Bergstrom had some heavy hitters who could go deep at any time.

Wagoner and Bergstrom graduated this past Spring, and Blood, a promising freshman power hitter, moved to Coeur d’Alene, leaving some sizable shoes to fill. Also graduated from last year’s team is Kassidy O’Keefe.

But coach Kati Mitchell has a solid group of returnees from the 2023 squad, plus an untested group of equally promising newcomers as the Trotters get ready for their season opener against this Saturday (March 23) at the Polson Invitational tournament in Polson.

“We also have some players who are brand new to Plains softball and their positions are being figured out as we speak”.

The Trotters then open their home season with a game versus Thompson Falls Thursday (March 28).

Mitchell likes the 2024 version of the team, which she says has gelled into a cohesive unit.

“Our anticipated strength we believe we have is a team which is supportive of one another at all levels,” she said last week as the team went through preseason practices. “And”, she added, “we will have fun doing what we love on the diamond”.

Mitchell is also confident in the prospective leadership abilities of a pair of seniors, Jaelyn Carr and Teirrainy Bellinger. Carr is a top-level catcher, while Bellinger is a quality infielder.

On the other end of the experience spectrum, Mitchell is also high on a pair of freshmen, Aubree Butcher, a pitcher and first baseman, and Emma O’Keefe, who pitches and plays second base for the Trotters.

Also on the list of top returning players is infielder Randie Kilgore (shortstop and second), and Montana Taylor, an outfielder.

The shaky start last year was in large part due to lost early leads in most games. Mitchell is hoping this year’s team can reverse that situation.

“This year I want us to get better at hitting the ball and stay ahead from the very beginning of the game”, she said.

Last year’s Trotters finished the season with a 9-14 overall mark. Mitchell said she expects T Falls, Mission and Eureka to be the strongest opponents on the schedule.