Rick Coughlin’s Richmond High School softball team tasted success during the four-year careers of pitcher Leandra Martin, shortstop Danica Hurley and catcher Lindsy Hoopingarner, with a state Class D title and two Western D championships proof of their hard work.

With graduation taking the middle of Coughlin’s field away from a team that fell to Penobscot Valley in last year’s Class D title game, 4-2, the veteran Bobcat coach is combining a strong senior class with a promising freshmen group looking to not skip a beat.

Basketball whiz and senior Jamie Plummer takes over the mound duties for Richmond, while junior Chika Obi will be her battery mate. And, Coughlin will try his magic again when a freshman mans shortstop, just like Hurley did four seasons ago, as Kalah Patterson steps in.

“Jamie will need to spot her pitches. She will certainly throw hard and has a great attitude,” said Coughlin of his hurler. “Like Danica Hurley, Kalah Patterson has the job at shortstop, is athletic and played the position in middle school. It is a tough position, but she is up to the task. And, Chika Obi is solid behind the plate and is working well with Jamie.”

“It is nerve-racking coming in behind Lindsy, but I have great teammates around me who pick me up,” said Obi, who is excited to catch Plummer. “Jamie keeps me tamed down when I get frustrated. She throws the ball really hard and even hurts my hand sometimes. But, we are really good together. It is important to be a leader as the catcher, and it is a challenge that I am excited to take on.”

Patterson, Coughlin’s niece, is also excited for the challenge.

“As a freshman it is hard stepping in because it is a lot of responsibility, and Danica had high expectations and was good,” said Patterson, who played shortstop throughout middle school after beginning her softball career as a pitcher. “I just want to try to be her, but not be her, and just fulfill her expectations and make her proud.

“But, I have to be myself. I am looking forward to the challenge of high school.”

Nine seniors return to the fold, led by captains Plummer, Noell Acord (center field), Brianna Snedeker (second base), Ciarra Lancaster (third base) and Payton Johnson (left field). Also, seniors Alyssa Pearson (right field), Andra Meagher (RF), Heather Brown (RF, returning from leg injury) and Sydney Choate (OF) are expected to see plenty of action.

“Our seniors are so important. They know what it takes to get it done, and they are carrying the young kids along,” said Coughlin, whose three-time defending Western D champion squad opens April 20 at home against East-West Conference foe Vinalhaven in doubleheader action.

Junior Kayla Hurley (2B/OF) and sophomore Kelsie Obi (first base), are the remaining Richmond returnees, while newcomers sophomore Sadie Perry (OF), and freshmen Kelsea Anair (1B/2B), Autumn Acord (OF), Kyla Johansen (UT) and Jade Gammon (OF) fill out the roster.

Coughlin expects the East-West Conference to be a challenge this season.

“Greenville will be tough, and I expect Buckfield to come around. Rangeley lost its pitchers, but had a taste of success last year (lost to Richmond in Western D final) and will surely be competitive,” said the coach. “Hitting is the key for us considering we didn’t hit in the state championship game well the past two seasons. We need to be able to play smallball and hit when we have the chance to drive in runs.”

“We want to win states, which is our number-one goal,” said Chika Obi.

Key dates for Richmond include a home date with rival Buckfield on May 7, a visit to Buckfield on May 21 and the season finale against Class C Sacopee Valley.

Baseball

Ryan Gardner returns to the helm after his Bobcats finished the regular season with four straight wins and knocked off Forest Hills in the Western D quarterfinals.

The 2012 season ended with a tough 4-1 loss to Buckfield, but the success at the end of the season provided Gardner with hope, with the season opener slated for April 20 at home against Vinalhaven (doubleheader).

“I was proud of the way we came together at the end of the season last year, and it is something I feel we can build on coming into this year,” said Gardner.

The coach has a tough task replacing longtime starters Kade Strout, Ben Carver, Tyler Harrington, Brian Snedeker, Gordon Warner and Peter Lorbeski.

“Obviously, a lot of kids that were with us a long time are not here any longer, and we are not looking to replace them but to build around the pieces that we have,” said Gardner.

The addition of former Wiscasset standout and senior Eddie Stewart (shortstop/pitcher) might help, along with his brother and freshman Mike Stewart, who will pitch and fill in at shortstop.

“Getting those two quality players from Wiscasset helps, and we have a lot of younger kids who are looking to step into the starting lineup,” said Gardner.

Seniors Randy Moody (catcher/outfield/pitcher), Gage Myrick (infield), Julien Leavitt (outfield), Xavier Trask (outfield) and Brett Stillwell (outfield) are key returnees, along with junior Collin Acord (infield), and sophomores Cam Emmons (infield/pitcher), JJ Patterson (infield/pitcher) and Bailey Johansen (outfield/pitcher).

Gardner’s newcomers are sophomores Dakota Roinestad (infield) and Alex Payson (utility), along with freshmen Curtis Anderson (UT), Patrick Boyd (OF), Nick Anan (UT), Jason Lynch (OF), Nathan Vintinner (UT) and Tyler Soucy (C/OF).

“I expect this team to play hard and improve one day at a time,” said Gardner, whose squad faces key tests against Greenville (doubleheader, May 11) and Buckfield (May 21), with the regular-season finale slated at home on May 29 against Greater Portland Christian. “I believe that we will have our aches and pains, but if we can get strong pitching, avoid errors in the field, steal bases and have good at-bats, we can make some noise.”