SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth University softball will try to take another step forward in 2008, working to improve upon the success of 2006 and 2007. And the Pirates will get their biggest test right up front, hosting defending Northwest Conference and NCAA Division III champion Linfield College on March 1-2 in a four game NWC series.

That series, originally scheduled for Whitworth's Marks Field, will be played in Pasco, Washington (see directions below) because of several inches of snow still on the Pirates' home field.

Whitworth is coming off a record-setting season in 2007 when the Pirates finished 30-6 overall (new school record for winning percentage and total wins) and 25-3 in the NWC (school records for winning percentage and total wins), one game behind Linfield in the final standings. Yet those numbers were not strong enough in the eyes of the NCAA Division III selection committee to merit an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament for the Bucs.

Head coach Fuzzy Buckenberger does not believe any carry over from that disappointment will affect his team this spring, however.

"It won't have any impact on what we do, good or bad," said Buckenberger (56-18 in two seasons as the Pirates' coach). "The best thing for this team is to put that behind us and focus 100% on this season."

Whitworth returns seven starters, including four 2007 All-NWC selections, in 2008. Buckenberger believes that combination of experience and talent makes his team a conference title contender again this spring.

Whitworth should be solid in the pitching circle behind Jessie LaPlante (Sr., Rathdrum, Idaho - CC of Spokane), who finished 18-2 last season with a 2.70 earned run average. She was named Second Team All-NWC for her efforts. She will be backed up by a pair of freshmen: Kelsey Ayers (Fr., Parker, Colo. - Chaparral) and Jessica Mangis (Fr., Spangle, Wash. - Liberty).

Whitworth will have to replace Lindsay Davis, who was a First Team All-NWC catcher last season. Rachel Anderson (Jr., Renton, Wash. - Hazen), who played in 21 games at a variety of positions in 2007 with a .500 batting average and two home runs, is the likely replacement. Caty Lieseke (Fr., Port Orchard, Wash. – South Kitsap) will battle for time behind the plate as well.

The Pirates will be solid around the infield. Sara Rylaarsdam (Jr., Mount Vernon, Wash. - Mount Vernon) has two years experience as a starter at first base and should receive quality back up from Josie Ball (Fr., Poulsbo, Wash. - North Kitsap). Morgan Thomsen (Sr., Spokane Valley, Wash. - CC of Spokane) had a sterling .966 fielding percentage while starting all 36 games at second base last season. Amber Fowler (Sr., Colville, Wash. - CC of Spokane) hit five home runs and eight doubles last spring and returns to start at third base. Shortstop figures to be a battle between Lacey Parry (Sr., Spokane, Wash. - CC of Spokane) and Lacey Kerr (So., Mead, Wash. - Mt. Spokane). Parry was a First Team All-NWC utility player last season, while Kerr was a Second Team All-NWC utility choice.

Halley Cey (Sr., Spokane, Wash. - St. Martin's Univ.) returns to start in center field, where she earned First Team All-NWC honors while batting .355 last season. Whichever Lacey does not start at shortstop will likely play one of the other outfield positions. The final spot should be a battle between Mandee Edwards (Jr., Kettle Falls, Wash. - Kettle Falls) and Carrie Gibson (So., Sammamish, Wash. - Eastlake).

The Pirates' strengths in 2008 should be similar to what they were in 2007: defense and fundamentals.

The series against Linfield will be a great challenge to the Pirates. The Wildcats return seven starters - including NWC Player of the Year Jenny Marshall and NWC Pitcher of the Year Brittany Miller - from last season's national championship run. Doubleheaders each day will begin at noon.

Directions to Pasco Sports Complex from Spokane: Merge onto I-90 W / US-395 S. 58.8 miles / Merge onto US-395 S via EXIT 220 toward PASCO. 73.6 miles / Merge onto I-182 W / US-12 W / US-395 S toward RICHLAND / PENDLETON. 2.3 miles / For-City of Pasco Sports Complex: Take Exit 9 (Rd 68), following signs to TRAC Center and Pasco Softball Fields. Located at 6520 Home Run Road.