The Austin softball team does not have great expectations, but rather great goals of again getting back to the state tournament and this time doing something while there.

"You always have the goals," said fifth-year coach Todd Waterbury. "You set the goals for the season like you do any other season, and we're going to try to accomplish the goals the way we did last season."

The Packers return all but one starter from last year's 20-5 Section 1AAA championship squad, starting in the circle with former honorable mention All-State pitcher Amy Kelly. Austin advanced to the state tournament for the third time in Waterbury's four seasons, twice with Kelly in the middle.

"This is our fourth year with Amy, and by the time she's done she's going to rank up there with the best pitchers Austin's had," Waterbury said. "She's been through the wars, and obviously she's been very successful."

Kelly struck out 200 opposing hitters in 25 games last season, and a solid defense surrounding her made a 0.54 earned run average stand up for a share of the Big Nine Conference crown and a 15-2 mark.

Kelly's battery-mate Keri Feller, a junior, returns as the Packers' veteran catcher. Feller hit .250 last season with a team-high 17 RBIs.

"Our battery, I wouldn't trade them for any other," Waterbury said. "They're both great all-around players, they can hit, they're smart, and they understand the game. That's a great place to start."

Kelly vows to work on her hitting, which had her second on the team last season with a .338 average.

Graduated second baseman Chelsea McColley leaves a hole on a busy right side of the infield, but the Packers have the durability and versatility to make McColley be missed as little as possible.

"In the field Chelsea McColley was a terrific player, but we're going to do everything we can to absorb the loss," Waterbury said. "In our view that's the most important position in the infield."

Senior co-captain Kylene Erstad will make the switch from third to second base, shifting Steph Eslinger from shortstop to third and bringing Caitlin Jurgensen from the outfield to field short. Jurgensen spent the summer Legion season playing shortstop and gained ground as a naturally able infielder.

"It was real nice this summer to get her feet wet," said Waterbury, who also coached the Legion squad this year. "She's so fluid the way she works the infield.

"We made ourself a lot more versatile so we'll be able to make the switches we need to and feel very comfortable with it. We're not going to be locked into any one position."

Erstad was the team's top hitter with a .407 average, making a key batting order switch with McColley to take over the leadoff spot midway through last year. The end result was a runner on first and a spark plug to start the lineup.

"We really worked our hardest to get to state last year," Erstad said. "It really wasn't expected. We just need to keep our focus and keep working hard in practice."

No. 2 hitter Betsy Hingeveld led the squad in sacrifices and returns to roam a corner outfield spot. Steph Sundberg is back in center field, Nicole Turvey is the returning first baseman, and the last outfielder has not yet been determined.

Lauren Goettsch and Meggan Rider have the upper hand so far, but nothing will be solid until the season starts. Teresa White and Kati Seeck will see some pinch-hitting at-bats as first basemen, while Sarah Brady and Brittney Auringer add speed to the basepaths.

Angie Rohne is a solid No. 2 pitcher for the Packer rotation, and she will also add to the batting because of experience gained last season in clutch roles. Nicole Barclay played second base coming up through the ranks and is another candidate for some innings.

"We'll just take it one game at a time still," Kelly said. "State is probably in the back of everybody's minds, but I don't really want to think that far ahead. Everyone has a little bit more expectations, but teams are going to be gunning for us."