Megan Gaines is heading into her first year as head coach for the Sumner Spartan fastpitch team. The girls ended last season with a 7-12 record and made it to the early rounds of the state tournament, Gaines said.

“Our expectation is to build off of last year and make it further in state,” she said.

Notable returns to the roster include Amanda Haines, Brittany Biller, Hannah Wilson, Mckenna Eidal, Kirstin Richmond, Jessica Stockdale-Pederson, Chloe Oyadomari and Jamie Lepper.

Haines, Biller and Richmond are expected to make strides offensively and the key defensive players include Stockdale-Pederson, Wilson and Lepper. Eidal and Oyadomari are this season’s pitching and catching duo.

Newcomers joining the team are Amanda Gustafson, Jaylan Wilson, Lauren Mitchell, Sydney Green, Amanda Cline, Emma Froembling and Abigail Woodside.

The girls will play Bonney Lake High School at 2 p.m., March 15 at Sumner.