Wait and see.

That’s the mentality Klahowya Secondary School fastpitch coach Holly Carver will take into the team’s 2010 regular-season opener Friday against North Mason High School.

Carver isn’t sure what to expect as the season begins because Klahowya’s top two players of 2009 — pitcher Kazandra Holliday and first baseman Meika Bumbalough — are now playing at the collegiate level.

Holliday, the school’s all-time strikeouts leader, is pitching at the University of Central Florida. Bumbalough, who hit .500 and drove in 21 runs last year, is playing at Sterling College in Kansas.

“When they left it was kind of like we were restarting,” Carver said. “They were so hardcore softball that it helped the other girls.”

Despite those departures, Carver believes there is reason to be optimistic.

The team returns an efficient hitter in junior Morgan Euzarraga, a catcher and infielder, and a reliable utility player in junior Courtney Snellenberg. Also returning are outfielder Shannon Frey, infielder Shelby Marsh-Quinlan and utility player Megan Schultz.

Still, there are positions that need to be filled, including pitcher.

Jacqui Hornbeck will move from junior varsity to varsity and is expected to get the majority of the starts, joining freshman and potential No. 2 starter Emily Gorecki.

Carver will look to Hornbeck to lead the staff.

“She knows what to expect,” Carver said. “I would hope that she could be a leader to Emily.”

Offensively, meanwhile, Carver is most concerned with the team showing consistency.

Rather than focusing on speed or power, she wants to see the players put the ball in play and give themselves a chance to score runs. Hornbeck and Euzarraga should be among the top run-producers.

“It’s a new slate,” Carver said. “We’re kind of seeing what we’ve got.”

What the team doesn’t have is its customary role as a preseason favorite to compete for a league title. Last year the team advanced to districts and came within one game of the state tournament, but now Carver considers the Lady Eagles an underdog.

Perennial fastpitch power North Mason is expected to be among the top Class 2A teams in the combined 3A/2A Olympic League. Keeping pace could be difficult for Klahowya.

“We’re not expected to be there this year,” Carver said. “We’re kind of in the shadow this year.”