John "Hoppy" Mitruski is set to retire as a teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School after this school year, but he plans on staying on as the Jaguars' softball coach for a few more years.

With the abundance of young talent he has on the team right now, Mitruski can't wait to see how it blossoms.

"I've had my eye on this group for a while," Mitruski said of his gifted freshman class. "I've been watching them since they were 10, 11, 12 years old. I knew they were coming."

Thomas Jefferson finished 6-11 last season and lost all but three players who were regular starters. But instead of sliding further, some talented underclassmen have helped the Jaguars rebound -- and even excel -- this season.

A year after starting out 0-8 and three years after starting 0-6, Thomas Jefferson is 5-0 heading into today's game against Trinity.

"We're kind of young, so we're really happy," said Mitruski, who is in his 30th season as coach. "I can't say I'm totally surprised. There are some good players who we knew would join us this season, but I didn't know for sure how it would work out.

"It takes a lot more than pure talent sometimes. You don't know about the chemistry. So far, things are good, but I don't want them built up too much."

The Jaguars are off to the fast start with as many as four freshmen in the lineup during games, including a ninth grader, Amanda Brennan, often at the pivotal shortstop position and two other freshmen playing at arguably the two most important roles on the team: pitcher Alyssa Frankenfield and catcher Amanda Wrobleski, the No. 3 hitter in the batting order.

"It's rare," Mitruski said of having an all-freshman battery. "But they're the real deal. We can't hide them anymore."

Heading into the week, Frankenfield was 5-0 with 48 strikeouts and only a handful of walks. She has two one-hitters and a two-hitter among her five starts.

Standing 5 feet 8 with an arsenal of pitches that includes fastball, changeup, drop ball, screwball and curveball, Frankenfield has plenty of big-game experience, having pitched for the Pittsburgh Spirit and, more recently Pittsburgh Patriots travel teams.

"People can't believe she's that young," Mitruski said. "She throws as hard as anyone, but she has really good control, though. She throws a lot of pitches but does not allow many walks.

"If we can hold the errors down behind her and get a couple runs, we'll be all right."

Frankenfield has concentrated solely on softball -- "That's what I live to do," she said. "It's all I do" -- since she took up the sport in the fifth grade. She throws with her father, Bryan, for about two hours a day and has worked regularly with Sto-Rox coach Bill Palermo as her pitching coach.

"I love it," she said. "I see it as my job to practice. I always just have to go out and give it all I've got.

"I didn't get very nervous [moving to the varsity level], because I've always had good confidence in myself. Proving to people I could do it is one thing, but I just want to go out there and do well for the team. As long as I'm doing the job for my team and we're doing well in our section, that's what matters."

Frankenfield has been playing for the Thomas Jefferson youth and junior high programs and has developed quite a rapport with Wrobleski in the process.

"I've known Amanda for about four years, and we get along pretty well," Frankenfield said. "She calls my games very well, she knows my pitches and what I can hit on certain days and what I can't.

"She's a very good catcher, and I'm very thankful to have her as my catcher."

During a three-game swing in Florida, Wrobleski went 10-for-14 with five extra-base hits.

"And even her outs were hard," Mitruski said.

Even with all the young talent, the Jaguars aren't without senior leaders. Team captain Lani Heck plays center field and bats cleanup after hitting .325 last year. Senior Audra Cieply shares time at third base with freshman Nikki Benack. Senior twins Emily and Alison Seelman are in the outfield mix with junior Marielle Silvio.

Juniors Skylar Williams (right field, shortstop) and Leah Miller (second base) typically occupy the first two spots in the batting order. Savannah Grant serves as the team's regular first baseman. Frankenfield also is adept with the bat.

"The kids are working hard," Mitruski said. "Hopefully we can keep this up."