DANVILLE -- With plenty of new faces in new places, at least Dwayne Heeter has what every coach wants to start the season.

While the Ironmen will break in new corner infielders and nearly an entire new outfield, Danville's middle returns intact. Seniors Carrie Mensch and Courtney Zampetti will be inside the circle and behind the plate, respectively, and middle infielders Nicole Wallize and Sarah Mullen, both sophomores, also return. Katie Mazol, an experienced outfielder, is moving into center.

It's a good start for a team looking to return to the District 4 playoffs after missing out for the first time in almost a decade last year.

"We knew coming into the season that we would be strong up the middle," said Heeter, whose team went 8-10 a year ago. "It's certainly a good thing to have those players back."

In fact, the wheels were put into motion a year ago.

Heading into his first year, Heeter had to replace a four-year starter at shortstop and an experienced second baseman. With eyes on the future, even beyond this season, he went with a pair of ninth-graders up the middle.

"We looked at it last year that these two individuals (Wallize and Mullen) were going to be our future here," said Heeter. "We want to be strong up the middle, so we went with them last year. They took some lumps and had some tough times, but we were happy with what they gave us."

While Wallize and Mullen are experienced, they are still only sophomores. Middle infielders are always looked at as leaders, but fortunately for that duo they have another year to grow thanks to return of Danville's senior captains Zampetti and Mensch.

Zampetti has been a starter since the day she stepped on the field as a ninth-grader while Mensch played sparingly as a freshman and then started as a sophomore.

The experience that pair has gained throughout their careers, including back-to-back playoff appearances in 2005 and 2006, has them itching to get back onto the diamond. It also has them doing a bit of reflecting.

"It seems like last week we were out here as nervous freshmen," said Mensch, who was 8-9 in 17 starts while batting almost .340 last spring. "It seems like last season was yesterday. It's really unbelievable how fast it's gone."

"At practice almost everyday I wonder where did it go,'" Zampetti said. "I've been playing since my freshman year and honestly it feels like this should be my sophomore or junior year. I don't really feel like a senior yet."

Zampetti and Mensch will certainly feel like seniors when the season kicks off today. With a lineup that could feature as many as five new starters, including two freshmen, a lot of pressure is going to be put on the seniors.

Heeter said the pair is capable of handling everything thrown at them.

"Those two are going to be very important to our success this season," he said. "Courtney is one of the few catchers in the league that calls her own pitches, so I don't have to worry about them. That's a big burden off my shoulders and it allows me to focus on the younger kids we have out there."