The Gans Lady Grizzlies are hoping to improve upon last season’s 1-16 record, thanks to a lot of young, promising players.

The Lady Grizzlies will return six starters from a season ago, with two of those being their seniors — catcher/shortstop K’Cee Osborn and utility player Gabbie Price.

Junior outfielders Makenzy Hunter and Brighton Dorsey, sophomore catcher/first baseman Makinzie Kimble and sophomore catcher/ infielder Aaliyah Taylor round out the returning starters.

Rounding out the roster are sophomore second baseman/outfielder Madi Pilkington, sophomore outfielder Stevie Pratt, freshmen pitchers/infielders Abigail Leach and Addy Bibbs, freshman pitcher/first baseman/ third baseman Maddie Freeman and freshman outfielder Yasenia Gaona.

“We have some excellent role models in our upperclassmen, and a lot of extremely promising talent in our lowerclassmen,” said first-year coach Jacklyn Green, who takes over for former coach Laney James, who took a basketball assistant coaching job with Fort Smith (Ark.) Southside High School. “We’ve been trying some new things in practice, and I think these girls are going to come out and surprise some people. They have heart and work hard. We’re definitely looking forward to competing this year.”

The Lady Grizzlies opened the season Monday afternoon at Webbers Falls.

Editors Note: Look for more season-preview stories on the local fall high school teams in next weeks edition.