Greensburg Salem enjoyed a 2007 softball season that was the best in the history of the program, going 15-1-1 and advancing to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals.

But the Golden Lions will be without at least six regulars from that team, so the challenge will be in repeating.

"To go undefeated for the first time ever, win a playoff game for the first time, it was a fantastic season," coach Jody Morgan said.

"We played just about perfect for 15 games."

But center fielder Mary Cook, shortstop Rachel Roddy, catcher Nina Marino, right fielder Breanne Gutman, second baseman Amanda Weightman and pitcher Ashley Duke are among those whom Greensburg Salem has to replace.

"You lose Cook and Roddy and all those kids, yes," Morgan said. "But if you know softball, it's about pitching. And I've got two great pitchers, so I'm pretty happy with what will happen this year."

Morgan was referring to sophomore Carrie Maier and freshman Sara Orr.

"They're really good," senior shortstop and team captain Jillian Croce said. "There's really nothing else to say. They continue to surprise me every day."

Maier shared the pitching duties last season and threw in both of the Lions' playoff games. She tossed a three-hitter in the 2-0 season-ending loss to Mars. Morgan often used her as the "closer" after then-senior Ashley Duke started games. This season, it could work out that Maier reverses her role and starts games while Orr finishes.

"Carrie will get the majority of the workload, and we'll bring [Orr] in during the later innings," Morgan said. "I'm big with showing teams two different looks ... If Carrie's going strong and pitching well, she'll go seven [innings]. If not, Sara will come in to finish off.

"Either way, it's just so good to have two pitchers who are so young and so good."

First baseman Andrea Thompson was an All-Section 2-AAA selection last season as a sophomore and showed some impressive power. She will anchor the middle of the Lions' order.

Croce moves from third base to shortstop and also will be depended upon for offense, as will sophomore Mallory Earle. Earle, who was injured for much of last season, takes over at catcher.

Junior Ashley Chappell figures to play right field, with senior Laura McCauley in center. Morgan said Orr will likely play left field when she is not pitching. Senior Kaylee Gerhard will start at third base, and the starting second base job was still up for grabs between two freshmen as the week began.

"I think we have some good players stepping up, younger players who should be able to fill all the holes of the seniors last year who graduated," Croce said.

Because of the cold weather, the Lions haven't practiced as much as they would have liked. Entering the week, the team had yet to practice on its own field (Greensburg Salem hosted Gateway in a scrimmage last week at Offutt Field, which has artificial turf. The Lions began their regular season Tuesday with a 17-2 victory against Uniontown.

"I've been doing this for 30 years," Morgan said with a laugh, "and it's like this every year."

Whenever the season does begin in earnest, the task of living up to all that last season's squad accomplished begins.

"We hope to keep it going two years in a row," Croce said. "I'm excited.

"We'll just take it game-by-game and see how things go. Obviously, we want to make it to the [WPIAL] playoffs. That's a big part of our goals."