Inexperience in any sport can cause an interesting season, but in softball, inexperienced pitchers can throw everyone for a loop.

Despite returning letterwinners in the field, the pitching situation at Free State and Lawrence High has both squads’ coaches preaching offense.

“We’re going to need to score a lot of runs,” Free State coach Pam Pine said. “Our defense is probably going to be our strong point. But in the Sunflower League you’ve got to score a lot of runs.”

FSHS has eight letter-winners returning from a team that took fourth place last year at state. The Firebirds will have varsity experience on the mound in Summer Mulford and Catherine Smith.

“It’s youthful pitching. Summer’s a senior, but she only started pitching varsity last year, and it wasn’t very much,” Pine said. “She did what she could. She doesn’t throw the ball very hard, but she has a little bit of movement.

“Catherine Smith is a sophomore, and she’s coming along. But she’s not going to blow anybody down, like some of the other pitchers in the Sunflower League.”

While the Firebirds have a couple of pitchers returning from last year, the Lions aren’t as lucky.

“Our big question is our pitching staff. We don’t return any of our experienced players in that position,” LHS coach Reenie Stogsdill said.

Senior softball players Drew Huff, left, of Lawrence High, and Summer Mulford of Free State will lead their squads this season.

With Lawrence having an entirely new pitching rotation, the play of senior middle infielders Drew Huff and Erin Miller will have to fuel the machine.

“Erin’s the hardest worker I have on this team, and I think she sets a great example. … So we should be pretty strong up the middle,” Stogsdill said.

Huff, who plays shortstop, and second baseman Miller have been a double-play threat since their sophomore year.

“We know each other, we can turn double plays pretty easily, and we just work really well together up the middle,” Huff said. “… Middle infielders are usually the leaders of the team because they control the outfield and infield. So it’s good to have me and Erin having experience to be able to lead our younger teammates.”

Huff said the Lions’ defense would have to control games.

“Everybody is going to have to back up our pitchers because we know they’re going to get hit a lot and just be able to field it and throw them up,” the senior shortstop said. “Get three up and three down each inning.”