The needle is pointing up this season for the Whitehall softball team.

With a large group of players returning from a squad that finished 12-11 and made both the district and league playoffs, there’s good reason for the optimism. This cast has also been playing together for a long time, and they’ve shown they know how to win together.

They also have eight seniors on the team, with the bulk of those players logging varsity innings since their sophomore seasons.

All that experience should serve the Zephyrs well this season. Head coach Alexis Berg-Townsend said it’s what they’ve been working toward ever since this group were “young pups” taking those baby steps in 2014.

“It’s a veteran squad and we’ve worked the last two seasons to be in the position,” said Berg-Townsend. “If we’re mentally tough and stay consistent, it should be a fun year.”

Consistency was the buzz word last year; this year it’s going to be consistency and mental toughness, said Berg-Townsend. In fact, Berg-Townsend believes the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical one. She said they devote five minutes at the beginning of each practice performing various mental exercises, a way to stimulate their thought processes for the grind ahead.

Berg-Townsend said that once the girls get to the varsity level, the fundamentals of the game have been pretty much ingrained in them. In order to achieve an edge, they have to be prepared for those tough tests that crop up during the postseason and beyond.

As they now look to 2016, the team returns the bulk of its line-up led by starting pitcher and leading hitter Kay Solderitch.

Solderitch will share mound duties with Ashlee Brosky, giving the Zephs a lefty-righty combination. Berg-Townsend said she would like to employ that combination as much as she can, assessing each opponent to see where their strengths lie and then choose the pitcher accordingly. Both junior hurlers have plenty of experience too, with each one on the bump since their freshman seasons.

Solderitch is also superb at the plate, a first team all-Eastern Pennsylvania Conference selection last season. She got the nod as a utility player.

Behind the plate will be junior Mackenzie Guzy. Guzy did the bulk of the catching last season, although Cara Bonshak filled in while she was injured. Freshman Logan Bortz will spell Guzy this season at times, giving the Zephs some depth at the position.

Berg-Townsend said that much of their infield spots are still up for grabs. Some of that may become clearer once they get back from Myrtle Beach, but as for now, three players will be vying for first base. That list includes seniors Gabrielle Molitoris, Karla Rodriguez and Taylor Stephens.

Those vying for second base are seniors Rachel Spanitz and Kieran Frankenfield, along with freshman Rachel Arner.

Once again, Julia Solderitch will be playing shortstop. The senior Solderitch has been a mainstay at the position for four years and brings a solid glove and excellent arm to the field.

Third base is another position where multiple players will be looking for playing time. That list includes Brosky and senior Taylor Kosman.

Their outfield is another experienced troop led by seniors Jillian Rex, Bonshak and sophomore Veronica Rodriguez.

Rodriguez saw varsity time in the infield last season, but Berg-Townsend said that the switch to the outfield will allow her to utilize her speed as she tracks the ball off the bat, something she does very well.

Bonshak and Rex will also supply a lot of pop at the plate. They each have three years of experience and have seen their share of varsity pitching over that time.

This year Berg-Townsend said they’ll look to add some pop to their line-up to complement their ability to play small ball, which includes bunting and hitting and running, vital arrows that have always been in their quiver.

“I’m really looking for power form my 3-4-5 hitters this year,” she said.

Berg-Townsend said that how far they go this year all boils down to the same theme: mental toughness and consistency.

“We just have to show that we can be physically prepared and mentally prepared,” she said.

As they prepare to head south to Myrtle Beach, Berg-Townsend said the team is excited to get on the field. What they don’t know, but will find out when they arrive, is that they’re scheduled to play the reigning Ohio state champs (Division II), Granville High School on Saturday.

Assisting Berg-Townsend this season will be Ricky Sechler, Kelly Maressa, Kyle Stinner and Deanna Stinner. The junior varsity coaches are Morgan Kelly and Dennis Kelly.