Last year, the Inglemoor Vikings’ fastpitch softball squad was a team in transition. Having graduated a slew of seniors from the 2007 team that placed third at state, the 2008 team did not have a single upperclassman starter in the lineup.

In addition, the hard-luck Viks also had to deal with an injury to staff ace Rhianna Stepler-Camp, which shortened Inglemoor’s already thin pitching staff.

This year, however, longtime head coach Jeff Skelly feels that his squad, healthy and more experienced, will be a serious threat to win the league title, as the Viks have accomplished nine times under his tenure.

“We got a lot of kids back from last year, in fact all 11 kids that started for us,” Skelly said. “It looks good.”

Skelly, in his 25th year coaching the Vikings, has a number of talented pitchers and position players to get the job done this year.

First will be team co-captain Stepler-Camp, a three-year starter who is back healthy and will be the squad’s No. 1 pitcher.

“I don’t think there’s really any pressure,” said Stepler-Camp when asked about being the day-to-day starter. “My strategy is to use my defense, and I know I have a great defense behind me.”

“She was hurt a lot last year as a junior so she didn’t get to pitch that much,” added Skelly. “But she’s going to be pitching a lot this year along with Rosie Matsumoto.”

Matsumoto started most of the games last season as a sophomore and finished with a record of 6-9, including teaming up with catcher Amy Taylor for three shutouts.

“Amy started every game last year as a sophomore catcher,” noted Skelly. “We’re going to look for a big season from her.”

Anchoring the infield defense will be junior Kaylee Hardin, who Skelly says has great range, and is “one of the best shortstops I’ve probably ever had.”

Leading the offense this year will be junior Jenna Rutherford, who tore the cover off the ball last year, leading the team in batting average at .441.

Rutherford also led the league with 10 doubles, and tied for second in stolen bases with 10.

Perhaps no one knows better than the players themselves how much improved over last year’s 9-11 season the 2009 Viking fastpitch team will be.

“I think we look really good, really promising,” said Stepler-Camp, who added that her team’s goal is to place at the 4A state tournament. “We have a lot of talent and more experience than last year.”

The easiest way to make it to the “big dance” at SERA Fields in Tacoma this May is to win the league — a goal that the Viks would love to make into a reality.

“I think it would be really cool if we became Kingco champs,” Hardin said. “I think we have the potential.”

Skelly perhaps said it best when he summed up his team’s goals for the season in just four words.

“Win a Kingco championship,” he said. “That’s it.”

Inglemoor fastpitch at a glance

Coach:

Jeff Skelly, 25th season

Last year:

Seventh in 4A Kingco, 9-11 league, 11-13 overall

2008 turnout: 27

Key returners:

• Rhianna Stepler-Camp, sr. P/3B: Staff ace looks to rebound from injury-riddled junior year. Has confidence in solid Viking defense backing her up.

• Kaylee Hardin, jr. SS: One of the best defensive shortstops in the league is also very patient at the plate, leading the team with eight walks last season.

• Jenna Rutherford, jr. CF: All-around player did everything: Hit well (.441), stole bases (10 on the season), hit for power (10 doubles) and tied for seventh in Kingco in runs scored (17).

• Srs. Taylor McDonald, Brittney Milke, Carmen Batchelor, OF: All three-year letterwinners, will bring much-needed experience and punch to Viks’ lineup.

Did you know?

Skelly, in his 25 years coaching fastpitch at Inglemoor, has led the Vikings to nine Kingco championships and four placings at state, including winning it all for the first and only time back in 2004.

Coach’s quote: “We return a group with a lot of experience. Kingco is the best league in the state — there are many very good teams. We should be competitive with everyone.”