The Auburn fastpitch team started its 2009 season like a house on fire, jumping out to a 4-2 record with big wins over South Puget Sound League North 4A rivals Federal Way and Kent-Meridian, and beating district rivals Auburn Riverside and Auburn Mountainview.

The second half of the season did not go as well for the Trojans, however, as the team’s inexperience began to show. The team faded to seventh in the SPSL North 4A with a 5-11 league record, 6-11 overall.

This year the Trojans are without a couple of key players but return a good mix of experience and talented underclassman.

“We lost four seniors, two regular starters,” said coach Charlie Frampton. “We’re kind of coming back with the core group of the team, so that’s outstanding.”

Auburn will look to senior co-captains Jasmine Hubley and Shannen Morgan for leadership. The Trojans also will turn to Amber Morrow, a catcher and returning All-SPSL North 4A second-teamer, to set the tone.

“She’s our field general,” Frampton said.

The Trojans lost third baseman Kahlani Badeaux and All-SPSL North 4A second-team first baseman Sarah Carson to graduation. But Frampton said the team already is looking to its freshman class to fill the gaps.

Raylene Pray, for instance, has responded at third base.

On the mound, the Trojans will rely on the experience and talent of junior Nicole Kelsoe, who is in her third year on the staff.

“She’s really matured and is doing a great job for us,” Frampton added.

At the No. 2 pitching spot, the team will feature freshman Katie Porter.

“She’s going to have a great future here,” Frampton said.

According to Frampton, the key to success is avoiding errors in the field.

“It’s a better team this year,” he said. “They’re eager, but right now our biggest problem is mental errors. That’s dragging us down. A lot of times you see the mental errors with the younger players only, but right now I’m seeing it with my leaders and my freshman players. We just need to go back to practice and run a lot of our defensive drills and stuff.

“We just try to focus on our technique and focus on making good plays and good decisions,” he said. “You just try to put people in game situations with runners in scoring position and see how they perform.”

Frampton expects his team to make some noise in the North.

“We have pretty decent speed,” he said. “And if we can ever get around to hitting the ball, (and) from everything I’ve seen, we should have a great hitting squad.

“We want to make it to districts, and I think we have the quality of program to get there.”