GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland softball team won’t be as young as they look.

Though there are just four seniors on the roster, there are many returning players among the underclassmen.

And it is a mix that Coach Jen Ficarra likes.

“I’m looking forward to this year,” she said. “It should be a good year for us. We have some experience. And having three coaches will definitely make a difference.”

Ficarra has a pair of assistant coaches — Beth Clement and Maria Denovio. Both have experience in the sport and played at the college level.

“While running a practice, we have several coaches,” Ficarra said. “We can do different things and that has helped.”

Clement played at Bethlehem High School and at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Denovio played at Shenendehowa High School and at Russell Sage College in Troy.

“They can take the girls and do something else,” Ficarra said. “Instead of standing around, there is more coaching going on.”

There are 12 players on the Lady Dutch squad this spring, led by seniors Michelle Giwerc, Sara Heller, Jenn McCutcheon, and Nicky Marcucci.

Heller returns behind the plate and brings a potent bat with her.

“She comes in every season ready to go,” Ficarra said. “She is strong. She hits the ball so hard. I don’t like pitching to her in batting practice because she hits the ball so hard.”

McCutcheon returns to the pitching circle this spring and will split time with junior Deb Schlidt.

“They are a strong combination,” Ficarra said. “They’re very different so they make a good combination together. It’s Jenn’s third year on varsity.”

“Deb is our utility player,” Ficarra said. “She is constantly moving around. She can pitch, play shortstop, or second. She can play anywhere.”

Giwerc returns to play at third base. She is a standout field hockey player as well and will play that sport at the University of Rochester.

Marcucci will see some time in the outfield.

Juniors on the team are Schildt, Meryl Kremer, Kristina Marilla, Lauren Napoli, and Marissa Valetta.

Napoli has been on the varsity since she was a ninth-grader and returns to patrol centerfield for the Lady Dutch.

“Her batting average was around .400 last year,” Ficarra said. “She is a strong player offensively and defensively.”

Valetta moves from second base to first base this season.

Kremer and Marilla will see time in the outfield this spring.

Rebecca Fitzgerald is the lone sophomore on the team. She was a late-season call-up to the varsity last spring and will play in the outfield this season.

Two newcomers to the varsity this spring are twins Morgan and Taylor Ten Eyk.

“The two eighth-graders are fitting in just fine,” Ficarra said. “They definitely earned their spots on the team. One plays short and one plays second and, during infield practice, it is like a mirror image. It’s funny.”

Morgan plays shortstop and Taylor will play at second base.

The Lady Dutch have their first game scheduled on April 2. The Dutch have an ambitious schedule this season, including tournaments in Cobleskill and at Shaker.

“Our schedule works out in our favor,” Ficarra said. “We’re in a couple of tournaments. We’re loaded up with 24 games. We are hoping to get most of them in. We end up losing some non-league games because of weather.”

Ficarra hopes that the tough schedule will result in a return trip to the sectionals.

“Our goal is to make it to the sectionals and be over .500,” Ficarra said over the record needed to qualify for the sectional tournament. “We were there two years ago and we lost to Columbia and my former coach. I don’t expect anything less than the sectionals.”

Ficarra feels she has a team that is good enough to get back to the Class AA tournament.

“This should be a good year for us,” the coach said. “This is definitely one of the most skilled teams I’ve had. The challenge for us is hitting. We’ve been doing a lot of hitting in practice. Obviously, the challenge comes in real game situations. It’s tough to stay focused. I feel good about this year. The team’s come together.”