After a full decade of struggles, the Placer High softball team is ready to turn the page. And coach Don Scott believes he’s got the talent to make it happen in 2010.

Slugger Courtney Phillips is the only senior on the roster, but a young foundation that is accustomed to winning doesn’t plan on changing its ways at the varsity level.

“In the few games we’ve lost, the team never expected it to happen,” Scott said. “These girls expect to win. It’s a new team and they’re young, but as far as their playing ability goes, they don’t act young.”

Scott said the team is off to its best start in his tenure at Placer. The Hillgals (4-3) are batting over .300 as a team and the defense has been excellent.

Phillips and captain Kacy Romero – a junior second baseman – anchor the infield. Phillips, who already has 11 RBIs in just seven games, is outstanding at third base. Catcher Taylor Graham is back after a stellar sophomore year and junior Kristen Close plays first base. Freshman Brooke Stufflebean has been a pleasant surprise taking over at shortstop.

“She’s got a lot of courage coming out here as a freshman and giving it her all and not being afraid of showing someone up,” Phillips said of Stufflebean. “She’s done really well with the pressure of varsity.”

Kailey Gaffney can play second or shortstop and gives the team another potent bat.

Sophomore Jenna Knox steps into the pitcher’s circle as Placer’s ace, following in the footsteps of her older sister Kelsey, who graduated in 2008. Knox has a 1.45 ERA in more than 29 innings this season. Stufflebean will also see time as a pitcher.

Scott has several quality athletes in the outfield mix, including speedy Haley Tupen, who starts in center. Alexis Strickland, Shana Heller, Mackenzie McGown, Hailey Leggitt and Alyssa Chapman will all figure into the equation for the Hillgals.

Scott said Romero is a true leader on the diamond. She began her career as a baseball player, playing against the boys in Little League and more than holding her own. Now she’s one of the top second basemen in the Pioneer Valley League.

Placer will be looking to improve on its 3-9 finish in the PVL last year. The league has turned into one of the best in the area with three-time defending section champion Bear River leading the way. Lincoln is formidable while Whitney and Colfax will be very tough as well.

“We take it as a challenge,” Romero said. “We just try to think positive. I think this year we can be up there with them, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Scott said he’s committed to building a program that will contend for titles with the PVL’s best. He knows it will take monument efforts each time out to compete this season.

“Our defense is very good,” Scott said. “You can’t be one-dimensional against those teams and I just tell the girls to focus on the things the know how to do and execute. If we do those things I think we can hang with anybody.”