VOORHEESVILLE — The young Blackbirds finally got out to play.

The Voorheesville softball team — with just two seniors — had its first practice outside Tuesday after spending the first couple of weeks of practice in the gym.

“It’s tough to be in the gym,” said Voorheesville Coach Matt Fiato after practice on Tuesday. “It’s been going OK. We’re young.”

The Lady Blackbirds have just two seniors on this year’s squad. Christine Abelseth returns and will play first base this year.

Brittany Vogel returns for her fourth year on varsity and will play shortstop again this year.

However, the Blackbirds are inexperienced in two key spots. Graduation left spots open at pitcher and catcher this spring.

“We need to get a few games under our belt as a team; we’ll be all right,” Fiato said.

Alissa Hatch does return to the varsity squad. She saw limited time in the pitcher’s circle behind Sarah LaFave, who graduated.

Also returning is sophomore Britney Creed. She started as a ninth-grader last year and will patrol centerfield this year.

Kelsey DeZalia also returns after starting as a ninth-grader last year. DeZalia will start at third base this year.

Kate Chiseri, a junior, also returns to the team this year.

Junior Kendra Campana will be on the varsity team for the first time. Sophomore Alexa Dillenbeck will also be new to the varsity and will be one of the team’s pitchers.

Liz Madden, another sophomore, comes over from the varsity basketball team and will be a varsity softball player this spring. She will play in the outfield.

Three ninth-graders also moved up to varsity for this season.

Caitlin Abelseth joins her older sister on the varsity squad this spring. Morgan Vandervort could see some time in the pitcher’s circle this spring and Brittany Fahd is up and will play some at catcher this year.

Fiato is carrying 12 players on the varsity this year but the lower levels are well stocked with players.

“The junior varsity has a lot,” the coach said. “They have 17 girls on the team, mostly eighth- and ninth-graders. We kept the varsity numbers down. It’s a good number, but a little on the low end.”

With the high number of young players on the team, Fiato still believes his squad can be competitive. And not just this year.

“With only two seniors, things are looking bright for the next few years,” Fiato said. “If we can stick close in our first few games, I’m hoping to score some runs this year. Then our pitching and catching will help us in games.”

Fiato plans on using all three pitchers.

“Alissa is our number one,” he said. “Morgan will be splitting innings with her. All three will see time, especially at the beginning of the year.”

The Blackbirds have a demanding schedule that is — weather permitting — going to start on April 2 against Class AA school Guilderland. Voorheesville, which is much smaller, is a Class CC school. The Blackbirds also have a few other tough non-league games on the schedule along with a strong Colonial Council slate.

“It’s a tough league,” Fiato said. “Mechanicville is really good and Cohoes was in the state finals last year. We have speed and good hitters and bunters. Offensively, I feel confident and defensively I feel confident. We are just a little inexperienced.”

Fiato, who will be assisted by Jim Duncan again this year, said that his team has plenty of games scheduled for the month of April and, if all of them get in, it will be a challenge.

“We have non-league games with Amsterdam, Guilderland, and Chatham,” Fiato said. “We’ll have to see how our pitchers hold up.”

The Blackbirds drop from Class B to CC — because of smaller enrollment — and Fiato expects his team to be competitive when the playoffs come around in May.

“We want to have an above-.500 record and get into the sectionals and win one or two games,” Fiato said. “I think we can sneak in and win a game or two. And we should finish above .500 in the league and get into sectionals. And that’s what it is about, getting into sectionals and anything can happen.”

There are several girls on the team who experienced last year’s run to the Class B semifinals.

“The girls that are upperclassmen experienced two games in the sectionals,” Fiato said. “We had a win and a tough loss. I feel confident in our returning players. I feel confident we’ll do well against the teams we play in the league.”