If it’s possible, the Kingfi sher High School softball team is getting…younger.

Despite not having a senior on last year’s squad, the Lady Jackets will once again sport a roster comprised almost exclusively of underclassmen when they begin the season this Tuesday.

KHS hosts Bethany in a District 4A-1 contest. First pitch is at 5 p.m.

The 2024 version of KHS has just one senior.

It was much the same scenario last year when the Lady Jackets led the Bronchos early, but ultimately lost 8-6.

That was the start of a season that saw Kingfisher finish 14-17 overall before being eliminated in the regional tournament.

KHS was 3-9 in District 4A-1 games, placing it sixth out of seven teams.

The Lady Jackets will face the same district schedule this year, but coach Morgan Dutton feels she and her team are more prepared entering her second season.

••• Just days prior to the start of the 2023 campaign - Dutton’s first as a head coach - she gave birth to her first child.

While KHS softball parents clamored for the opportunity to watch over baby Brady Dutton during the season, it was still a taxing time to balance motherhood and coaching.

“It’s going to be a lot easier in that respect this year,” Dutton said.

As for the team, Dutton put the Lady Jackets into the Piedmont summer league, which is considerably more competitive than the league it played in Enid in previous years.

“We just played a lot better overall with the better competition,” Dutton said. “We’ve seen good pitch. We’ve had close games that we’ve won and we’ve had close games that we’ve lost.

“But we’ve had good situational softball already and I feel like we’ll be a lot more prepared than last year when we roll into that first district game.”

Among the key returnees this season is sophomore pitcher Kinlee East.

She was the team’s workhorse last season as she threw all but 30 of the team’s 165 1/3 innings.

She sported a 2.90 ERA and struck out 87 batters while opponents hit just .245 against her.

East was also second on the team with a .300 batting average, was second in hits (24) and led the team with 20 RBIs.

Other returning fulltime starters are juniors Jancee Matthews and Shelby Davis and sophomore Adlee Friesen.

All three joined East in making the all-Tri-County Conference team last year.

Matthews is the team’s centerfielder and knocked in 17 runs, which was second on the team, and scored 22 runs last year.

Davis played catcher and offensively had 9 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Friesen played multiple positions, but mostly roamed left field as a freshman.

She’s expected to play primarily at first base this year. She batted .247, had 10 RBIs and tied for the team lead with 25 runs scored.

Sophomore Liliana Garramone played in 29 games last year, either in the out- field or middle infield.

Dutton said she’ll play a big role for the Lady Jackets once again.

Gracie Rowan and Presleigh Phillips, both juniors, are also back and are expected to provide production.

Rowan missed several games last year to injury, as did Addi Willson, who broke her hand early in the season and was unable to return.

Willson is the team’s lone senior this year.

The team will also get a boost from newcomer Reese Roof, the junior daughter of Kingfisher’s new football coach Reagan Roof.

She’s been playing second base in the preseason “but can play anywhere,” added Dutton.

Then there’s yet another influx of strong freshmen expected to contribute in big ways.

Lily Voth will provide KHS another solid arm in the circle.

“That’s a big key for us,” Dutton said. “Kinlee had to throw a lot of innings last year, but Lily is someone we’ll have a lot of confidence in.”

Whichever Lady Jacket isn’t pitching will likely be playing shortstop, Dutton said.

There’s also the dynamic and versatile trio of Kendall Farrar, Addy Brueggen and Addi Johnson.

“They can play everywhere for us,” Dutton said. “And they’ve got really strong bats.”

That will be needed as Kingfisher did lose three full-time starters in the off-season.

Kinley East, part of last year’s strong freshman class, moved to Jones. She led the team in batting average, hits and tied for the team lead in runs scored and was a playmaker at third base.

Kynli Boeckman, a senior this year, has moved to Dover after starting much of last season at first base.

Mattie Slezickey started most of last year in the middle infield, but opted not to play this year, as did Bella Gomez. Both also pitched for the Lady Jackets.

“We took some hits there,” said Dutton. “But at the same time, we feel really good about the ones we have coming in.

“They already showed this summer that they have the ability to step into those roles and give us what we need.”

Aniessa Edsall returns as an assistant coach and Riley Dacus will join the staff this year.

“She’s a good addition for us,” Dutton said. “She pitched in high school and she knows the game, so we’re excited to have her join us.”

••• At one point last year, KHS lost six of seven games by either one or two runs. The team then closed out the regular season by winning four of its next six.

“I felt like the girls really stepped up when I challenged them,” Dutton said after the season. “They finished out the regular season fighting and that’s all I can ask of them.”

She’s asking for more of it now as the district is once again loaded with the likes of Bethany, Clinton, Elk City, Mount St. Mary, Weatherford and Woodward.

Weatherford is the defending champ and returns two of the top players in the class.

Almost every other team, Dutton noted, had a roster full of underclassmen just like KHS last year.

“It’s going to be another solid district,” Dutton said. “It’s going to be competitive pretty much every night and it’s going to be a fight.

“But I also feel that will help us in the playoffs. You see tough teams when you get there and that’s something our district will have us ready for.”