MARYSVILLE – On paper, Marysville-Pilchuck softball coach Aaron Zachry says the Tomahawks should be good.

“But it’s going to depend on how well we jell together as a team,” he said.

Last year’s team went to state, finishing 20-8, but it lost power hitter Kylie Lopez, who smashed 13 homers. She’s now playing catcher for Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.

But Lopez is one of only three seniors who graduated, as Zachry said they had a young team.

They still have a young team with only two seniors this year. But they have some standout underclassmen.

Mckenzie Justice, a junior, returns after hitting .500 with seven home runs as a sophomore. She was the pitching ace of the staff last year, also playing third base and outfield.

The other pitcher Zachry hopes to rely on this year is Lily Fischer, a sophomore. The coach expects them both to perform better than last year because they each have another year of experience. “They’re smarter pitchers between the ears,” he said.

Zachry expects Fischer to excel at third base and at the plate, too, adding she came on the second half of the season last year and at state.

Leadoff hitter Chloe Morgan is expected to spark the team, getting on base with a high average and stealing bases. Defensively, the coach expects the standouts to be junior shortstop Katie Barrett, who has started there since she was a freshman, and new catcher Sydney Zachry.

The coach also expects a lot from four freshmen; all should see playing time at varsity. Zachry said the team won’t have the power it had last year, but will make up for it with team speed.

“We will have to manufacture a few more runs,” he said.