Last year was a stepping stone year for the Wallkill softball teams.

The Panthers finished with a .500 record in the Mid Hudson Athletic League to earn a berth in the Section 9 Class A tournament, where they posted a sectional victory before being eliminated in the semifinals by the Minisink Valley Warriors.

The Panthers have lost second baseman Jenna Galasso, third baseman Mia Ferrante, first baseman Alison Robles and outfielder Reilly Ciastko.

The Panthers will return three seniors: second baseman Elysia Villafane, shortstop Gabby Faia and outfielder Sarah White. Juniors left fielder Grace Rodriguez and Charley Callahan return with sophomore catcher/third baseman Kasey Garzione and sophomore pitcher Emma Hunt, who entered the season eight strikeouts away from moving into third-place all-time in Wallkill history.

Faia entered the season three stolen bases away from third all-time in school history and 13 away from taking second.

Catcher/third baseman Gianna Allessandro, a sophomore, split time between varsity and JV last year and looks to step into a larger role this season. First baseman Juli Hansen, shortstop/first baseman Ella Rydell, second baseman/second baseman/ catcher Audrey Reeves and outfielder Mikaela McCue – all juniors- will vie for time in the lineup.

“We have a deep, talented roster filled with players who love the game,” Wallkill coach Sean Murphy said. “I’m incredibly confident in the potential of this group. What’s going to define our season is how we come together as a unit along with how we handle adversity.”

The Panthers were handed some immediate adversity when they were beaten by the Valley Central Vikings, 2-0 last season.

The Vikings return key players in Adrianna Ferraro, Audrey Conklin, Autumn Strobach, pitcher Bella Mayo, Eleanor O’Neill, Emilia Brundage, Emily Sharpe, Emma Moore, Kayla Fenner, Kori Geiselhart, Lindsey Serrao, Mackenzie Hinspeter and Megan Mann.

That’s a very experienced roster after having only lost Brianna Robinson and Madison Sicardo from last year’s team. Emily Geiselhart is the newest member of the team.

Both teams will play in the new Class AA as the New York State Public High School Athletic Association increased to six classifications this year. The Vikings reached the Section 9 Class AA semifinals before losing to Warwick.

The Pine Bush Bushmen, however, will remain in the state’s largest class as they will join the new Class AAA this season.

The Bushmen finished 8-12 last year but qualified for the Section 9 Class AA tournament, where they lost to eventual champion Monroe-Woodbury in the semifinals. They opened the tournament with a win over Kingston.

The Bushmen lost three seniors in Kayla Suzuki, Giovana Brooks and Madison Langdon. This year’s team is unique in that it has no seniors, which could set up this year’s squad as at least a two-year team.

Returning players include third baseman Kendall Morris, catcher Payton Croce, pitcher Avery Ogden, shortstop/center fielder Kayla Gorman, outfielder Meaghan Wishinski and pitcher/first baseman Nataile Longobardo.

Pitcher/shortstop Autumn Gove, first baseman/third baseman Madison Sheets, catcher/outfielder Silvana Zamonsky, outfielder Emma Zerbarini, and outfielder Molly Dowson are new to the team this year.

“We are young with a lot of talent,” Pine Bush coach Scott VanPelt said. “The team is starting to gel. Our pitching is looking good, and we have a lot of pieces that are starting to come together.”

The Chapel Field Lions didn’t make the Section 9 Class D tournament last year, as the program continues to rebuild and coach Bill Spanjer is looking for his players to take the next step in their development.

Returning are senior pitcher Emma Spanjer, senior shortstop Skylar Robinson and sophomore catcher Meghan Winter.

“It’s a great group of girls,” coach Spanjer said.

“They are young ladies of excellent character and heart. They are committed to work to the best of their ability, and I have no doubt that their effort will bear fruit this coming season.”