If there was a feel-good, Cinderella story last spring in Redmond High School sports, it would have had to be the fastpitch team’s unbelievable run at the Class 4A state tournament in Tacoma.

Last year’s team had to battle through a number of adversities, including losing its staff ace to an injury after just four starts before barely sneaking into the state tournament by winning three straight loser-out games.

Through it all, the hard-nosed ‘Stangs surprised the state field by outscoring their opponents 20-1 in their first two games at state, and going 4-1 overall to take third place, the program’s highest finish in school history.

And the scary part about all of this?

Nearly the entire starting lineup returns from last year, including pitching sensation Erika Hendron and RBI-machine Emily Squires, along with regular contributors Lauren Nabseth, Paige Mullins, Bailey Mullins and Maria Reisinger.

“We’ve worked really hard and they bring a lot of experience back from last year’s team,” said Redmond coach Pat Frable. “We have a lot of fun, so I expect good things.”

EVERYBODY IS A CAPTAIN

One of the major changes this season is that, with so much senior leadership on his squad, Frable has decided not to have a designated team captain.

“I think all of the seniors really have to step up and be leaders,” said Squires, who will patrol first base this year. “I think (not having captains) is a really good thing. We’re all just going to be a leader on our own and lead the team to the state tournament again.”

While the Mustangs have a slew of solid contact hitters up and down their lineup, a large part of the team’s success will hinge on Hendron. The hurler had a phenomenal postseason last spring when she recorded an 8-3 record and 1.92 ERA. Overall last season, Hendron struck out 199 batters in 151 innings and walked just 36 batters.

“Erika has thrown a lot and played in a real competitive summer program,” said Frable on his staff ace. “She’s worked really hard in the offseason getting in shape. She’s turned into a good long-distance runner and she’s probably in twice as good shape as she came into the season last year.”

According to Hendron, the familiarity of the close-knit group that brought home the third-place trophy last year will be a benefit to the club.

“It’s a great group of girls and we’re meshing really well at this point,” she said. “I want to do as well as I can pitching, have a good time and make it to state again.”

COMPETITIVE CREST

4A Kingco has always been an ultra-competitive league for fastpitch, but the playing field was deepened even more with this season’s new alignments, bringing in three very competitive schools to the Crest Division in Skyline, Newport and Issaquah.

“It will be a lot more difficult,” Frable said when asked about having to compete against the new schools. “With the addition of Skyline and Newport, and with the division between the Crest and the Crown, it’s going to be very competitive.”

Even so, the players know that they have the talent necessary to get the job done.

“I want us to go undefeated,” said Squires. “I think we can really do it this year.”

REDMOND MUSTANGS FASTPITCH AT A GLANCE

• Head coach: Pat Frable, 1st season

• Last year: 13-7 in Kingco, sixth place; 21-10 overall, third at state

• 2008 turnout: 24.

Key returners

• Sr. Erika Hendron, P: Did a marvelous job taking over as staff ace after Jessica Rakonza went down with injury. Catalyst behind ‘Stangs amazing postseason run; 120 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched during the regular season.

• Sr. Emily Squires, 1B: Senior leader was a clutch hitter last year in the postseason.

• Sr. Maria Reisinger, OF: Speedy, hard-nosed outfielder really shined at state last spring.

• Sr. Baily Mullins, SS; Sr. Paige Mullins, OF: The two Mullins Twins are solid contributors. Bailey led the team in batting average last season at a torrid .439.

Top newcomers

• Soph. Christine Ho, INF/P

• Soph Stephanie Gero, INF/P: The team’s two talented 10th-graders both hit and run well, and exhibit a sense of confidence that is rarely seen in sophomores.

DID YOU KNOW?

Frable has coached baseball the last 18 years, and he was head coach of the Mustangs’ baseball team from 2001-2004.

COACH’S QUOTE

“It’s not as important what my goals are, but it’s more important as to what the girls want to make of this whole thing.”

— PAT FRABLE on his team’s goals heading into the 2009 season.