Solid returnees and a good group of younger players will greet softball head coach Ruth Crowe this season as the Cyclones begin their quest for a successful 2001 campaign.Iowa State is looking to build off last season in which they finished with a 18-29 overall record and a 4-14 mark in the Big 12 conference. The Cyclones finished 10th in the conference, and, for the second straight year, advanced to the second round of the Big 12 tournament by beating Baylor, 6-3.Despite the loss of some key senior players in the lineup, the Cyclones bring back some veteran performers, especially in the pitching ranks.Leading the way on the mound will be senior Kristin Ferguson from Barnum, Minn. Ferguson will be joined in the rotation by sophomores Erica Martinez and Jen Bice. Bice led Iowa State last season recording 82 strikeouts in 110 innings of work while Ferguson and Martinez saw action in a combined 121.3 innings.Coach Crowe said that one key to the season will be the improvement shown in pitching.”I think that there are a lot of question marks when it comes to the pitching because we are so young,” Crowe said. “But we’re hoping to improve in that area.”A familiar face at first base will be senior Kimi Yoshizawa. Yoshizawa is a three-year letter winner who is known primarily for her defensive abilities. She ranked fourth on the team last season with a .981 fielding percentage in 318 chances — by far the most on the team.Also returning to the lineup is junior Lauren Cathey. Cathey started 47 games last season for the Cyclones, alternating between third base and catcher. However, this season she will see increased action at third.Added to the list of impressive returnees is junior Amberly Lessenger. Lessenger, native of Grandview, batted .314 last season seeing action in 33 games. Returning sophomore Adrianne Blackmon will be counted on to provide help in the outfield.”We are looking forward to an exceptional year,” Lessenger said. “We have a great freshman class that has tremendous ability along with a well-rounded and experienced upperclassmen. We have great versatility, quickness and leadership, and we have a wide range of offensive skills as well as defensive skills.”Six new freshmen have been brought in, adding a lot of talent to the current nucleus of players. Members of the freshmen class include Kelly Wardein, Morgan LeCluyse, Julia Lindsay, Minda Ogan, Ashley Core and Rainey Eanes.”At certain times of the year, you might see five or even six of the freshmen starting,” Crowe said. “It’s a very talented class.”The Cyclones start out the season Friday when they travel to California to participate in the San Diego State tournament. A strong contingent of teams is expected with NCAA participants Cal-State Northridge, Fresno State, Long Beach State, Michigan and Stanford competing in the four-day event. The tournament is the start of a four tournament schedule which Iowa State will participate in before beginning Big 12 play.”We play a very competitive schedule this year,” Crowe said. “We play many of the top 25 teams with a lot of them coming in our conference.”Crowe said that defending champion Oklahoma, as well as Nebraska and Texas, will be the teams to beat in the Big 12. “If we can finish in the middle of the Big 12, we’ll be in a good spot,” Crowe said, pointing out that recently a last place PAC-10 team went to the World Series. “It just shows the strength of that conference,” she said. “The Big 12 is very competitive this year as well and at a very high level.”Both Martinez and Lessenger agree with Crowe’s assessment of the Big 12 conference. “We’re looking forward to every game we play,” Martinez said. “But especially the top teams in the nation, like Oklahoma, Nebraska, Fresno and many other ranked teams.” “Oklahoma, last year’s NCAA champions, Nebraska and Texas will be the greatest challenges for us,” Lessenger said, “but these challenges can definitely be overcome with the strength and desire we have on this team.”The softball team is excited to start a new season and is equally excited about the talent which surrounds the team.”We have great senior leadership along with excellent coaching,” Lessenger said. “Everyone on this team has the talent and potential to do great things this year. The leader on this team can not be singled to one individual but several.”