EDMONDS — The Edmonds-Woodway softball team enters the 2003 season with a new head coach and an aggressive approach to the game.

Former assistant Amy Mensing takes over from longtime head coach Mike Pittis and has brought some changes to the Warriors.

“I would say I enjoy playing the short game,” said Mensing, an Edmonds-Woodway graduate who assisted Pittis the last two seasons. “My strategy is to pretty much make the other team make the play. We’re going to run, we’re going to steal … hopefully we can rack up some runs that way. I’m a risk taker.

“I think that other teams are going to be pretty surprised … we have quite a different style.”

The new approach worked well in last week’s non-conference opener against Blanchet. The Warriors fell behind 2-0 after the first inning but then scored 10 unanswered runs to secure the victory.

That game could be considered a blueprint on how Edmonds-Woodway is going to approach the season.

The goal is to force the opposition to react to the Warriors.

“We had some really great key hits laid down,” Mensing said. “We laid down a couple of nice bunts and just ran on them.”

Edmonds-Woodway only returns one senior starter but when that individual happens to be pitcher Tracie Adix, it’s understandable why the Warriors are viewed as one of the top teams in the tough Western Conference 4A South Division.

The senior co-captain, who is headed to DePaul University in the fall, has been hitting the weight room.

“I’ve been doing a lot of lifting lately,” Adix said. “I’m probably a lot stronger than I was last year.”

While that bit of news probably isn’t exactly comforting to the opposition, it’s yet another reason why Adix’s teammates look to her for leadership.

“She’s such an overpowering pitcher. It’s impressive to watch,” said junior co-captain Lindsay Kline. “The rest of us to try harder because she’s so determined. She wants to make all the rest of us determined.”

Though Adix will see the majority of innings, Mensing also has plans to throw junior Kayleigh Svendsen into the mix. Svendsen is more of an offspeed, junk ball pitcher in sharp contrast to Adix, who is a power pitcher.

“It’s a great combination,” Mensing said of her two pitchers.

Adix, the team’s No. 3 hitter, also anchors a lineup that should continue to produce runs. Third baseman Maddie King bats cleanup and provides some solid power.

“We’ve got speed at the top and speed at the bottom (of the lineup),” Kline said. “We’ve got good power in the middle. I think we’re really full all the way through from top to bottom.”

Added Adix, “Everybody made contact on Tuesday (against Blanchet) and even if they didn’t hit, they made contact.”

Other key returners include second baseman Andy Zolton and catcher Brynn Noack, whose strong arm will make life difficult for opposing baserunners, Mensing said.

Two freshmen — first baseman Janet Schumann and left fielder Annika Lindberg — are projected as starters and the third — outfielder/second baseman Brenna Bowman — also will see action.

“They’ve been great additions to our team,” Mensing said.

Since she’s been an assistant the past two seasons, the freshmen are the only players that Mensing didn’t know before the start of the season, which has helped make the transition smooth.

“I forsee us going a long way,” Mensing said. “We’ve got some really high expectations.”

Here is a look at Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace:

Meadowdale

The top priority for the young Mavericks is scoring more runs.

Meadowdale lost five games by 1-0 scores and lost two other games by one run last year.

“Those were games where we needed a hit here and there and it would have helped,” said coach Larry Culver. “We had almost no run production.”

So far, Culver is encouraged by what he’s seen in a pair of preseason games. Though they lost to Stanwood and Blanchet, the Mavericks have made contact and scored some runs.

“We’re trying people at different places,” Culver said. “I think the potential is there with some really young kids.”

Meadowdale returns only a trio of starters in senior catcher/third baseman Christi Mallory, senior first baseman/designated hitter Ashley Unger and junior left fielder Ashlee Ross. Other returners who saw some action last season include Katie Franco, Katrina Kromm and Jenica Callahan.

Culver is taking a wait-and-see attitude with his pitching. Juniors Sara Rutherford and Callahan will see action, as will freshman Jessica Williams. A couple of sophomores may also find themselves on the mound at some point.

“I think we’ll probably pitch two or three different players for a while to see what’s going on,” Culver said.

What’s impressed Culver the most is the Mavericks’ youthful exuberance and their passion for the game.

“I’m so pleased the kids that I have,” Culver said. “They’re just into the game … they seem to be really getting along. This probably is going to be one of the best teams I’ve had in how they’re playing together and how they’re communicating.”

A year ago, Lynnwood edged Meadowdale’s for the lone 3A berth to districts. This season, the top two 3A teams out of the South Division advance to the playoffs and the third also can move on if it has a record equal to or better than the sixth place team in the Northwest 3A League.

Mountlake Terrace

The Hawks are looking to make their eighth straight postseason appearance and with a trio of senior standouts, the streak has a good chance of continuing.

Senior pitcher Michelle Ness, a ground ball specialist, moves into the No. 1 slot with the graduation of Katy Barstad. Ness pitched her first career no-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Lynnwood March 25.

“She is going to keep batters off on a regular basis,” Hawks coach Kim Stewart said.

Senior outfielder Annie Everett and senior utility player Chelsea Logan also return to anchor the Hawks’ defense. Also returning in the infield is second baseman Briana Knight.

“Our defense is really solid,” Stewart said.

Stewart describes the Hawks’ offense as having both speed and some decent power. Getting the ball in play will be the key to scoring runs, he said.

Mountlake Terrace’s underclassmen have made a seamless transition to varsity and Stewart expects them to be major contributors.

“Our younger kids that we brought up have fit in nicely,” Stewart said.