When the Siuslaw Vikings softball team opens practice Monday (Feb. 28), there should be a lot of familiar faces, but not on the coaching staff.

Fourteen of the 17 players on last spring's Lady Vikings' team were underclassmen.

Siuslaw will have an all-new staff, head coach William "Jason" Lipe and assistant David Bitner. Lipe is a science teacher at the high school, Bitner the supervisor of food services for the school district.

Lipe replaces longtime coach Sean O'Mara, who retired from teaching at Siuslaw High School last spring and yielded coaching duties last fall.

The Lady Vikings open the 2022 season with a doubleheader at Sutherlin on March 15.

The home opener is Friday, March 25, a doubleheader with Coquille.

League play begins April 12 with a single game at Marist.

Siuslaw is in its last season in the 4A Sky-Em League. The Lady Vikings join the Mountain West Conference next school year.

NOTES 

Returning all-league players include senior Bailey Overton, first-team infield (and first-team all-state), and senior Hayden Muller, second-team outfielder. …

The Lady Vikings were OSAA Academic All-State last spring with a team GPA 3.21. …

Siuslaw's last game against a nonleague opponent was March 23, 2019, when the Lady Vikings dropped a doubleheader to visiting Phoenix.. …

Siuslaw has scheduled 24 of its maximum 25 regular-season games. …

Siuslaw was 1-14 last season, beating Cottage Grove at home, 8-7, in the ninth game. …

Coach — William "Jason" Lipe

Assistant coach — David Bitner

Season opener — Tuesday, March 15, at Sutherlin (doubleheader), 2:30 p.m.

Home opener — Friday, March 25, vs. Coquille (doubleheader), noon

League opener — Tuesday, April 12, at Marist, 5 p.m.

SIUSLAW SOFTBALL

Monday, Feb. 28 — First practice
Tuesday, March 15 — at Sutherlin (DH), 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 — at South Umpqua (DH), noon
Friday, March 25 — Coquille (DH), noon
Friday, April 1 — Pleasant Hill (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5 — Creswell, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 12 — at Marist, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 15 — Junction City (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19 — Cottage Grove, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 22 — at Elmira/Mapleton (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26 — at Marshfield, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 29 — Marist (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 3 — at Junction City, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 6 — at Cottage Grove (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 10 — Elmira/Mapleton, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 13 — Marshfield (DH), 3 p.m.