It appears Wright City’s infield is secure.All five of the Wildcats’ returning starters primarily play closer to the plate, meaning the outfield positions are completely up for grabs.Coach Fred Ross’s team will be young once again this year, coming off a 3-20 campaign in 2012.The rebuilding effort will continue for the Wildcats, and it begins with Eastern Missouri All-Conference selection Holli Minzes.The junior led the team with a .388 batting average last season, collecting 19 hits and 10 RBIs.“Holli is also one of our best fielders,” acknowledged Ross. “She had an outstanding fielding percentage and was an all-around leader for us.”Minzes, a third baseman, seems to be performing at full strength coming off knee surgery over the summer.Savannah Bridges will start at catcher after finishing second on the team with a .370 average last season. She played six different positions, earning second-team All-EMO honors.“We’ll need strong leadership from her again,” said Ross.Bridges tied first baseman Brittney McPike with a team-best 20 hits.“We’re looking for a lot of leadership from Brittney,” said Ross. “She struggled a little bit at the plate last year trying to do too much. But she has shortened her swing a little bit and is doing better.”McPike, who also batted .370, was Wright City’s best power hitter with six doubles. She will be responsible for driving in Bridges and sophomore Abbie Ogborn, who will bat in the lead-off position.“Abby did a really good job of hitting from both sides of the plate,” said Ross. “We’re counting on her to get on base a lot again this year.”The pitching duties will fall on Brooke Vossen, who went 0-2 as a starter last season. She struck out four batters, while walking 11.“Brooke doesn’t throw that hard but she is able to throw strikes,” said Ross. “She started a lot of JV games, so it will be interesting to see how she transitions to the varsity level.”Ross is looking to use Vossen as his ace, with sophomore Alexis Fast being a frontrunner for the No. 2 pitching position. Freshman Macy Evans will also serve as a spot starter.The inexperience in the outfield will be handled by committee.“We have several girl vying for position there,” explained Ross.Among them are freshman Erin Tomschin, sophomores Candace Edwards and Jenae Hill, and seniors Amanda Kelly and Liz Laird.“We may go with whose got the hot hand during practice,” said Ross. “We’ll give everybody an opportunity there, but the good part is they play a multitude of positions.”Despite the inexperience, Ross expects the Wildcats to compete against most opponents and finish among the top half of the conference.“We look to improve over last year,” said Ross. “We’re young, but the girls have more confidence and should take another step in getting the program back to where it was a few years ago.”

Brooke Vossen will start on the mound for the Wildcats this season.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.