BERNE —The Berne-Knox-Westerlo softball team is building for the future, but it still has goals for this year.

The Lady Bulldogs have just five returning players; eight players are new to the varsity this spring.

“We had a lot of seniors returning last year,” said BKW Coach Mike Reynolds. “It was my first year of coaching. I did what I could. The players now benefit from playing Little League. They have a softball league. We want to get the girls playing all year long whether in travel programs or rec. leagues.

“It’s tough to compete,” Reynolds added. “There are powerhouses like Duanesburg that we play that have the opportunity to play all year. It’s more difficult to compete against them. The girls and the families put a lot into it.

“These girls here should play outside of school ball.”

The BKW team is loaded with younger players.

“We are heavy with sophomores,” Reynolds said. “We are planning one or two years ahead. I think these girls will really be good players their junior and senior years. We need a better feeder program and we are getting more girls going from modified to junior varsity. And that is the benefit of playing in Little League. It’s definitely a good place to start.”

Returning for the Lady Bulldogs are Kieva Reynolds, Katrina Yakel, Lacey Yakel, Vicky Gerard, and Vicki Lounsbury.

Reynolds, the coach’s daughter, will return to the pitcher’s circle where she started last year as a freshman.

Katrina Yakel, a senior, can play both at catcher and first base. Her sister, Lacey, returns to play in centerfield.

Vicky Gerard played shortstop last year and will play second base this spring.

“She is a good athlete,” Coach Reynolds said. “She is our utility player. She’ll do whatever we need her to do.”

Lounsbury will see some time at third base this spring.

“She’s one of our third basemen,” Reynolds said. “She’s gotten better.”

Among the new players are sophomores Bridgit Hurst, Kristsin Depeaux, and  junior Tommi-Lee Springer.

Hurst is the Bulldogs’ second pitcher and can play at first base as well. Depeaux will play at shortstop and Springer can play at third base and will also try catching this year.

Aurora Becker is a senior who was on the junior varsity team last year. She will play in right field this year.

Becky Amedio, a ninth-grader, is a talented newcomer.

“She shows good promise,” Reynolds said. “We’ll be using her in leftfield and in the future we’ll try her at third base.”

Lydia Gerardi, a sophomore, is a newcomer who will get some playing time in right field.

Junior Noel Hatley shows good promise, Reynolds said, and will see time in right field this season.

“We have good athletes,” Reynolds said. “I’m looking forward to see them this year and I’m looking forward to next year. We’ll have three starting spots open up. They will fill in and we’ll see more of the girls. It’s part of the constant evolution of the program.”

Reynolds would like to see his team get outside for a practice and allow his players to use their talents on the field.

“I’m hoping to get outside tomorrow,” Reynolds said on Monday. “The girls are looking forward to it. We want to put all the basics and the skills we’ve developed into practice.”

Reynolds does have goals for this year’s team.

“We want to win more games than the year before,” Reynolds said. “I think we were 10-11 last year. I thought last year was a success. But we want to win more games than the year before and we want to commit fewer errors and continue hitting better.”

Reynolds said that the goal is also to finish with a .500 or better record and get into the sectionals. The Bulldogs are scheduled to open the season on Thursday, April 3, with a home contest against Canajoharie

“We want to qualify for sectionals on our merits,” Reynolds said. “We would like to go a little ways in sectionals, but we are starting with small steps. We always play to go all the way.”