Last modified: Thursday, March 6, 2008 10:24 AM PST Argus Observer File photo Treasure Valley Community College catcher Jennifer Bamburg gets set to make a tag in this Argus Observer File Photo taken last April. Bamburg is one of seven returners for the Chukars who look to make a playoff run in 2008. Lady Chukars optimistic about season By Ray Rodriguez Argus Observer Ontario — The Treasure Valley softball team once again will have their work cut out for them after losing key players from last years squad that won 13 games a season ago. But as any start of a new year, four-year head coach Shane Quesnell expressed some signs of optimism for the 2008 season and has reloaded the roster with eight new freshmen and two new sophomores. Kortni Bare, Danielle Pulley, Valerie Yingling, Miranda Juker, Whitney Peterson, Alexis Daw and Ashley Hillyard make up some of the newcomers, while four of the newcomers are homegrown. Payette graduates Heidi Haas and Kylie Peterson join the squad along with a pair of Ontario graduates, Jaimi Arant and Sarah Wharton. “I believe we’re going to see some big things out of Sarah Wharton,” Quesnell said. “We will see some good pitching from Yingling and our overall leader is Sarah Standley. We should get a good showing out of her.” Arant and Peterson are in their sophomore seasons, and Peterson makes her triumphant return to the Treasure Valley from Dana College in Nebraska. “Those players combined with the six returning members have worked extremely hard during the off-season to create a team that we are excited about putting on the field in 2008,” Quesnell said. Jennifer Bamburg, Jessica Kallestad, Sarah Standley, Cassie Tipton, Jamie Petersen and Angela Martinez make up the core of returners, who bring some infield depth along with some solid hitting. Bamburg will lead the catching duties and will bring much needed leadership to the five new freshman pitchers. Whitney Peterson, Yingling, Daw, Hillyard and Juker make up the five freshman starters and they will get playing time early in the season to determine who will carry the bulk of the load come conference time. Standley will start the season by moving to the shortstop position, but may also see time at second base. Haas will get looks at third base and Tipton is slated for first base. Other infielders battling for time include Hillyard, Pulley and Martinez. The outfield should be the most improved part of the Chukar defense this season with Kallestad in left field and Wharton is slated to take over in center. Right field is up for grabs with Petersen, Kylie Peterson and Daw fighting it out for the final slot. On offense, Quesnell feels the first four in the lineup should kickstart the offense for the Chukars. “We should be able to put some things together,” Quesnell said. “Once we get Bamburg behind Wharton, who will hit behind leadoff hitter Sarah Standley, the meat of the order should be good. We have average speed this year and we should have to work hard to manufacture runs.” The Chukars next host Columbia Basin March 21st.