Poplar Bluff's seniors, from left, Hillary Webb, Meagan Stucker, Haley Foust, Kelly Kelm, Jerika Wawak, Ashlee Mattox and Alex West lead the Lady Mules softball team this fall. (Brian Rosener/DAR)

By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

With so many starting positions to fill, new Poplar Bluff softball coach Dustin Benson is using every single minute of the preseason.

"We're always constantly doing something and we've been hitting a lot," senior Alex West said of practice. "Every time you're not doing something (with the team), he has you doing something else."

There's a lot of ground to cover and a short time before the season opener Aug. 29. Benson said everything from learning new signs to bunt defenses is going as planned.

"They really enjoy the game and they work hard every day so it makes it a lot easier, especially as far as learning stuff," he added.

With seven seniors on the roster, there's a sense of urgency to the preseason.

"We play as a team really well and I think we all adjusted really well with Coach Benson coming in," senior Kelly Kelm said.

Benson's roster features eight players back from a team that finished 18-8 but made a first-round exit in the playoffs. Much of that experience is in the outfield where seniors West and Kelm patrolled. Junior infielder Breanna Moore is the only other returning starter but the trio hit a combined .385 with 51 RBIs last fall.

"We've been hitting the ball well," Benson said. "We've got some girls with some pop in their bat (and) we've got a couple of girls that can lay down an occasional bunt if needed."

What's missing from the lineup, Benson added, is a true slap hitter from the left side that he hopes can be filled by a younger player.

Last season Moore led the team with a .433 average and a .493 on-base percentage. She also tied for the team lead in runs scored with 27 and was tied with Kelm for second on the team lead in RBIs with 19. West, meanwhile, led the team in extra-base hits with 11 including three home runs.

"I think we'll be OK offensively," Benson said. "I hope we'll be OK."

Brandy Perry looks to take over pitching duties this fall after throwing just seven varsity innings in relief last year as a sophomore.

"She's got a lot of upside to her," said Benson, who added that Perry has a lot of pitching experience despite her varsity numbers.

Benson noted that Perry and new catcher Chelsea Coleman work well together and have been batter mates before, giving him a lot of confidence in the pair.

Also new for the Lady Mules will be the entire right side of the infield. With still 10 days before the opener, Benson said not every position is set in stone.

Looking to fill those voids will be seniors Ashlee Mattox, Meagan Stucker, Jerika Wawak, Hillary Webb and Haley Foust. Juniors include Abby Burke, Cassandra Darnell and Moore while sophomores are Haley Bishop and Erika Becker.

Moore, a .414 career hitter, will likely move from third to shortstop and anchor the infield.

"Her ability to make the play and throw almost any runner out will help us out defensively," Benson said. "As far as the right side, it's going to be new but they're showing a lot of good stuff in practice.

"They make the plays they're supposed to make and they're learning where to be. That's huge right now."