Stay healthy and keep the bats alive.

That’s what third-year Mount Si High School softball coach Lauren Dumoulin hopes her team can accomplish this season. Her Wildcat squad made a lot of progress last year and the girls are working well together to keep moving up the ladder this time out.

Mount Si graduated five talented seniors last year, mostly infielders, but the coach feels the current Wildcats can still push the team forward.

“We have so many young kids that were on our team last year, but also brand new kids, freshmen coming in that are just very talented,” she said. “We have big shoes to fill, and we have awesome athletes that are gonna do that. I think we’ve made a lot of growth offensively, especially. We have a lot of kids who can hit the ball hard, and our defense is gonna be solid.”

Tops for the Wildcats are senior captains Lauren Wilbourne, who pitches and plays the outfield, and Grace Lis, who can also be found in the outfield when she isn’t behind the plate as catcher.

“Both of them are really awesome competitors, great leaders,” Dumoulin said. “Every moment of every game, they’re just very intense about what they’re doing, very focused.”

They’re strong and reliable at the plate and have a great presence on the field, the coach added.

Junior Abby Gronewald will play a vital role at second base after moving in from her prior outfield position and swings a big bat as well. Other top returners are outfielders Brittany Deveny and Molly Wilbourne, as well as Hope Bostick. Dumoulin is also thrilled to have Hayley Benham and Samantha Simmons back on board after taking a year off. Benham, a senior outfielder/infielder, is versatile, strong and hits the ball well, while junior Simmons possesses a stellar glove at shortstop.

Head coach: Lauren Dumoulin

Last year: 4-9 league, 6-9 overall, fifth in 4A KingCo, district qualifier

Top returners: Lauren Wilbourne, senior, P/OF; Grace Lis, senior, C/ OF; Abby Gronewald, junior, 2B