But what the Lady Bisons, who finished the 2008 campaign at 11-7, lack in varsity experience, they make up for with a lot of depth and several good prospects in the freshmen class.

"Every year that I've been here, our depth keeps getting better and better," Clearfield head coach Bob Dixon said. "This year, we have a lot of real good kids coming from junior varsity.

"We have a number of good freshmen coming up. We'll be young, but I think we'll handle ourselves well. It will be a lot of fun this year. We will experience a lot of growth."

There are 32 girls on the roster led by senior letterwinners Megan Butler, Julie Colesar and Mandy Rowles, and sophomore letterwinner Suzie Colesar.

Rowles pitched in all 18 games for the Lady Bisons last season, amassing an 11-7 record with seven complete games and four shutouts. She tossed 108 innings and gave up 35 earned runs, good for a 2.27 ERA. Rowles struck out 127 batters and walked just 19.

In her career, Rowles has a 23-16 record with a 1.98 ERA. She has 261 strikeouts in 257 innings of work.

"Probably, we'll go as far as she can take us," Dixon said of Rowles. "She works all year round. This is the best I've seen her since she exploded on the scene as a sophomore.

"She's been working hard the last two years, but from what I've seen from her so far this year ... she's been really good."

Rowles is just as dangerous with her bat. She hit .370 last season with seven home runs and six doubles. Rowles scored 14 runs and drove in 27. She has a career batting average of .368 to go with 64 hits and 57 RBIs.

"Hopefully we can get a couple bats around her so they don't walk her all the time," Dixon said. "She's a good stick."

Julie Colesar returns to first base where she turned in an all-star defensive performance, while hitting .302.

"She was our defensive player of the year last year," Dixon said. "She only had one error. She has an excellent glove and hits well. I think we'll see some good senior leadership out of her."

Butler played third base last year and will see time there or at shortstop in 2009. Butler batted .382 last season, scoring 17 runs and driving in 10. Butler also swiped five bases.

"Megan is a good, solid senior," Dixon said. "She shows a lot of leadership, and a lot of girls will look up to her.

"She is what you look for in a leader, not only on the field but how she carries herself. She will play real solid defense and is a good hitter that will do what it takes to win."

Suzie Colesar will hold down right field, where she started 11 games in 2009.

"She had good season as a freshman and played all summer and all winter," Dixon said. "We're looking for a big improvement from her."

The rest of the lineup will consist of new faces and a few players who saw limited action last season.

Catching Rowles will be Curwensville transfer Chantel Reed, junior Baillie Davis or freshman McKenzie Moore.

"Chantel Reed has been impressive, as had McKenzie Moore," Dixon said. "I think they will both get playing time, and we will probably see Baillie Davis occasionally. We have three pretty decent catchers. Being a junior and getting some good experience at Curwensville, Reed may be leading the pack."

Seniors Courtney Morgan and Carrie Harbold and junior Janell Zalno and freshman Melinda Owens are all in the mix at second base.

Morgan and Harbold each saw action in a handful of games last year. Morgan played third base, left field and right field, while Harbold was mostly a designated player. Zalno also got in a pair of games.

Freshman Andrea Butler, along with Zalno, are frontrunners for shortstop. Megan Butler could also shift to that position, which could open a spot for someone to play third.

Senior Kaitlin Adamson could see time at the hot corner, as could Reed.

 "We're going to be pretty versatile," Dixon said. "And the depth we have this year is the most we've ever had."

Katie Bowman and B.J. Bowman will play left field and center field, respectively. Senior Sophia Reed will likely see time in the outfield as well.

While Dixon is confident that his young squad is coming together nicely, he says there still is some work to be done defensively, especially up the middle where the Lady Bisons lost catcher Kenzie McGovern, shortstop Ashley Lias, second baseman Alanna Luzier and centerfielder Alyssa Anderson to graduation.

"That was quite a hit to take defensively," Dixon said. "Will we be as good as were last year? We're going to work on it.

"Pitching and defense has been my call since I got here. I figure if you keep the other team from scoring, you can't lose. We're going to work hard on our defense, and I think Mandy will deliver with the pitching."

As far as goals for the Lady Bisons this season, Dixon says they really haven't changed much.

"We always want to win a state championship," he said. "That's always our ultimate goal. Maybe we need to tone that down a little this year with the youth we have. But then again, I think P-O won (in 2007) with three freshmen starting.

"Depending on how these girls come along as the year goes, who knows what can happen?"

Clearfield begins its season March 25 at State College.

Roster

Seniors

Kaitlin Adamson, *Megan Butler, *Julie Colesar, Mariah Dunsmore, Carrie Harbold, Laura Jean Hill, Courtney Morgan, Sophia Reed, *Mandy Rowles.

Juniors

Breanna Blaylock, Samantha Broad, Baillie Davis, Rachel Cordon, Bethany McClellan, Chantel Reed, Janell Zalno.

Sophomores

Katie Bowman, *Suzie Colesar, Ana Dungan, Sarah Graham.

Freshmen

B.J. Bowman, Andrea Butler, Maria Cordon, Mia Keener, Robyn McBride, McKenzie Moore, Tristan Lewis, Melinda Owens, Amanda Peoples, Lindsey Samsel, Erica Steis, Tori Wilsoncroft.

*Returning letterwinners

Schedule

March

25-at State College, 4:30; 30-DuBois.

April

1-Hollidaysburg; 3-Altoona; 6-at Bradford; 8-Punxsutawney; 15-at St. Marys; 20-Williamsport; 22-at Brookville; 24-Curwensville; 25-at Central Mountain, 10 a.m.; 27-at DuBois; 29-Bradford.

May

1-at Hollidaysburg, 4 p.m.; 4-at Punxsutawney; 6-St. Marys; 8-at Bellefonte, 4:30 p.m.; 11-Central Mountain; 13-Brookville; 15-at Altoona, 4:30 p.m.

Games begin at 4:15 p.m. unless noted.