Offense should not be an issue for the Auburn fastpitch team this season.

Already this spring, the Trojans have proven themselves to be a juggernaut at the dish, scoring 68 runs in just seven games, for a hefty 9.7 runs-per-game average.

“Offensively, we’ve got a really good team,” said coach Charlie Frampton, whose squad is 4-3 on the season.

Amber Morrow is leading the way. Auburn’s returning All-South Puget Sound League North 4A catcher has eight home runs this spring.

“We’re doing a great job in the box, hitting,” Morrow said. “We’re doing a great job offensively.”

But with No. 1 pitcher Nicole Kelsoe nursing a back injury, Auburn needs to step it up defensively to achieve its goal of making it out of the SPSL North 4A and into the district playoffs.

“We have to hit real well and defend well,” Frampton said.

The Trojans feature a strong core of returners, including senior tri-captains Morrow, Kelsoe and Alyssa Lonsberry.

And it all starts with the Seattle University-bound Morrow.

“She is tremendously important. She’s a great athlete,” Frampton said. “You couldn’t ask for a better kid. She’s a great leader, on and off the field. From my perspective, she’s probably one of the best catchers in the state. She’s solid. She’s a good blocker and has a tremendous arm. Defensively, she fields the bunt well. She does everything that we need her to do.”

So far this season, Morrow is hitting a blistering .895.

“I’m doing pretty well this year, which is making me pretty happy,” Morrow said. “I’m a senior this year, so I want to go out with a bang.

“I’ve actually changed my game plan at the plate this year,” she continued. “I’m actually not looking to hit home runs. I’m trying to shorten my swings. I’m thinking about getting a base hit. I’m just line-driving it. I’m trying to focus on just being a team player and getting on base.”

On the mound, Frampton is optimistic that Kelsoe will recover and resume her role as the team’s ace.

“We’re just trying to get her back so she can start making a contribution,” Frampton said. “She’s a great athlete.”

Until then, the Trojans will look to sophomore pitcher Katie Porter to pick up the slack.

“We want to make it to districts,” Frampton said. “A lot of that depends on how much pitching do we have? Katie is doing well. She’s doing everything we ask of her, but we’ve got to be able to defend a little better.”

Frampton expects juniors McCall Wilson and Mackenzie Blakely to make an impact.

“Both are really good ballplayers, just solid,” he said. “(Blakely is) doing a great job this year. She really worked hard this year getting ready for the season.”

In the outfield, Lonsberry leads a corps that includes Wilson and senior newcomer Kristianna Strickland.

“She’s just a great leader in the outfield. She takes care of everything out there, just a great outfielder,” Frampton said of Lonsberry. “Offensively, she’s got a great bat. She’s really stepped it up for us this year.”

Frampton also praised Strickland.

“She didn’t play last year and came out and wanted to play this year,” Frampton said. “She’s just a tremendous athlete, really fast and just learns the game really well.”

Add in a handful of strong sophomores with experience from last season – including Raelen Pray and Rylee Lewis – and the Trojans look to have the pieces in place to be one of five teams that move out of the SPSL to district this season.

“We have a great team chemistry,” Morrow said. “We only lost a couple of seniors last year, so we’ve got the core group back this year.

“I think, compared to last year, we have a stronger team chemistry, and I think we can go farther this year.”