The sound of softballs hitting the mitt in Stover Auditorium was a welcome one to Coach Gordon Campbell although he wished he had more players to fill the Wolverine’s roster. Nine girls turned out for the March 19 practice. Wiscasset Middle High School opens its Mountain Valley Conference softball season Friday afternoon, April 19 at Hall-Dale High School in Farmingdale.

Sydnie Thayer, one of two seniors on the roster, can’t wait to get back on the diamond. When she’s not on the mound she’ll probably playing somewhere on the infield. Last year she was the team’s starting third baseman. Shelby Collins is the other senior.

Also returning from Wiscasset Christian Academy are juniors Farrah Casey and Kelsey Jones; both are starters from last year’s team that finished with a MVC record of 3-13 and ranked 8^th in the Class D South.

Campbell said this season will be a rebuilding one. Lost to graduation were six starters, Maeve Blodgett, Leah Potter, August Moore, Lindsey Gordon, Clara Mugnai and Corey Campbell. Moore was the team’s go-to pitcher and Campbell started every game as catcher. The team also lost Paige Adams who transferred to another high school.

“Most of those girls who graduated this past year had played for me since I coached the junior high team. Losing six starters really hurts and I was really hoping for a better turnout,” said Campbell who is starting his fifth season as the Wolverines' coach.

Four other returnees are juniors Ellie Pratt and Makayla Bailey. Both saw a good deal of action last year and Coach Campbell is counting on them along with veterans Thayer, Casey and Jones to be the run producers.

The Wolverines have two sophomores, Joanna Collins and Brooke Thayer, and three freshmen, Latisha Wright, Dinisha Dawkins and Hailey Talbert. These underclassmen are worth keeping an eye on, Wright in particular; she played both soccer and basketball for the Wolverines and has a great deal of potential. Dawkins’ presence, too, will help the team.

Coach Campbell hopes he’ll have a half dozen more girls join as the weather improves and he can begin practicing outdoors. “Softball is a really fun and exciting game to play. I’d really love to have more freshmen and sophomores come out and give it a try even if they’ve never played before.”

The other high schools making up Class D South are Richmond, Searsport, Greenville, Valley, Buckfield, Forest Hills and Vinalhaven/North Haven. The Wolverines aren’t scheduled to play any of these schools during the regular season but they could meet in the playoffs. All of the MVC teams the Wolverines will play against are Class C high schools.

The season opener with Hall-Dale is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Farmingdale. All other games start at 4 p.m.