Rick Kashner has been an assistant baseball coach for 18 years.
This spring, he'll still be on a diamond, but the Shamokin Area athletic director is moving over to softball.
And he couldn't be stepping into a better situation.
The Indians are coming off a .500 year but made the playoffs and won an extra-innings thriller at Athens in the first round before losing to Milton.
Shamokin had just one senior starter on that team and returns a group of players starting for their fourth year.
Headlining the group are last year's all-area players Jenny Hornberger, Helena Supsic and Olivia Bonshock.
They'll be expected to again carry a team that will focus on speed.
"I like to run," Kashner said. "We're going to try to hit and run and play a fast game."
Carley Nash took over on the rubber for Supsic early last year and has worked hard in the offseason on her stamina and velocity.
"Carley worked very hard and I think she's drastically improved from last year," Kashner said.
Her biggest task is to just get the ball over the plate and let the Indians' defense do the work behind her. Shamokin's offense, with Supsic and Bonshock each having more than 10 extra-base hits and driving in more than 20 runs apiece, should be just fine.
Shamokin will have to butt heads again with perennial powers Milton and Jersey Shore in Division I of the Heartland Conference.
"It's been an up and down three years for theses girls," Kashner said. "They made the district playoffs as freshmen, missed it as sophomores and just barely got in last year. But I think we have the potential to have a very good season."
The area's other two playoff teams from last year lost a lot to graduation.
Four starters left Lourdes and Southern Columbia needs to replace five starters. Between the two squads, five spots on the all-area team are gone.
Lourdes, with new head coach Clay Funk taking over, will try to find players to fill the holes left in the circle and at the plate by CharLee Rosini. Rosini pitched all but two games for the Red Raiders last year and had 16 extra-base hits and 34 RBIs. Subtract the offensive production of Emily Long (.422 avg and 35 runs).
The Red Raiders will look to one of the few returning all-area players - Peyton Klembara - to take up the slack left by Rosini. Klembara pitched in four games last season (2-2), but will get the majority of time in the circle this year. She'll also be asked to be an even bigger threat at the plate.
"Peyton has worked with a pitching coach since last August," Funk said. "She's working hard and she has the right demeanor. She's a competitor, she's our best option, and she knows we're in a tough division."
All of Lourdes' six regular-season losses came at the hands of Schuylkill League Division II powers Tri-Valley, Williams Valley (the defending Class A state champs) and Minersville (which won the state title in 2012).
At Southern Columbia, all-state players Mallory Tomaschik, Kirsten Blass and Kayla Lavella will need to be replaced in the first real rebuilding year the Tigers have had in quite a while.
Sophomore Abbey Herr will get the nod at pitcher. In a very limited sample size, Herr struggled against varsity competition, but a trip to the state finals as a replacement goalkeeper in soccer and a whole offseason of work should have restored the promising hurler's confidence.
"She worked over the winter and she's got some good stuff,"Southern Columbia head coach Al Cihocki said.
"Being with the soccer team was good experience for her. She did a great job and she's certainly battle tested now."
The offensive production from those three may be harder to replicate.
After an all-state freshman year, Taylor Hoffman struggled to start her sophomore season. Still, she finished hitting .400 with eight extra-base hits and 27 RBIs.
Herr won't be the only sophomore starting up the middle. Jadyn Dunkelberger will fill in at shortstop for Blass and Haley Levan will be the new centerfielder.
Line Mountain just missed the playoffs last year, but they return six starters from last year's team that made a push late.
Catcher Kiana Lukoskie was the team's only all-area player after hitting .426 with two doubles, two triples and nine RBIs, but showed incredible softball acumen and is as tough a backstop as you can find.
That second part will be important as the Eagles break in a new pitcher. Madeline Reed or freshman Myah King will split time on the rubber for Line Mountain.
Line Mountain
Head coach: Jordan Taraschuk
2013 record: 8-12
Players: Seniors - Brooke Long (SS, 2B), Madeline Reed (1B, P), Lauren Giordani (LF), Kelsea Rebuck (RF). Juniors - Deidre Long (CF), Jayci London (3B), Bre Boyer (LF), Keyla Brill (OF). Sophomore - Kiana Lukoskie (C). Freshmen - Myah King (P, 1B), Joelle Snyder (SS).
Outlook: Six starters return from a team that made a late push to earn a postseason berth. Kiana Lukoskie, an all-area player as a freshman, will direct a solid defense from behind the plate. The key for the Eagles will be to build on a better offensive showing in 2013.
Lourdes
Head coach: Clay Funk
2013 record: 14-7
Players: Seniors - Peyton Klembara (P), Jayme Lentini (CF), Gabby Long (2B), Angelique Pennypacker (1B). Junior - Caity Funk (C). Sophomores - Karley Spangler (SS), Miranda Moser (OF), JoAnna Davidson (OF). Freshmen - Olivia Giles (OF), Elizabeth Alexander (OF), Olivia Dobson (OF).
Outlook: Lourdes is trying to rebuild following two straight trips to the district playoffs, but the Red Raiders have just 11 players on the roster. Peyton Klembara will move from shortstop to the pitcher's circle, where she'll try to replace four-year starter CharLee Rosini.
Shamokin
Head coach: Rick Kashner
2013 record: 11-11
Players: Seniors - Catherine Augustitus (1B/C), Bri Bonshock (2B), Olivia Bonshock (3B), Kelsey Forbes (), Jenny Hornberger (CF), Helana Supsic (SS), Natalie Wolfe (LF). Juniors - Jackie Augustitus (1B/DH), Kourtnie Chapman (RF), Heather Elliott (OF), Carley Nash (P), Cierra Zimmerman (3B/C). Sophomores - Abigail Pennypacker (OF), Trishtan Sopko (OF). Freshmen - Aleea Faus (INF/P), Kirsten Hynoski (2B), Sarah Long (INF), Annie Richardson (INF), Madison Rodarmel (INF/C), Kaitlyn Schrader (OF/1B), Kelsie Stewart (OF).
Outlook: Shamokin has a veteran lineup and this is the best chance the Indians have had to really make noise. Teams only go as far as their pitcher and hurler Carley Nash reportedly worked hard to improve velocity and use the corners to her advantage.
Southern Columbia
Head coach: Al Cihocki
2013 record: 14-8
Players: Seniors - McKenna Lupold (2B), Angela Vought (3B), Erin Yoder (LF). Juniors - Becky Harder (OF), Taylor Hoffman (1B), Julia Podpora (OF), Amber Welkom (INF). Sophomores - Jadyn Dunkelberger (SS), Abbey Herr (P), Blair Johnston (C), Haley Levan (CF), Jordyn Ryzner (OF). Freshmen - Christina Podpora (RF), Cassidy Sabo (RF), Deryn Seltzer (OF).
Outlook: The Tigers will be young, but could sneak up on teams that expect youth to translate to inability. Southern needs to replace four starters, two of whom are playing in college, but a little seasoning may turn three new sophomore starters and some freshman into more than welcome additions.