Staff photo / Neel Madhavan The Canfield softball team works on hitting drills indoors Saturday afternoon after its game Saturday was canceled due to inclement weather.

CANFIELD — Canfield softball’s four seniors from last season may be gone, but the Cardinals have a new senior class of four ready to pick up where that previous group left off.

Bridgett Kelly, Jackie Kinnick, Madison Angelo and Bayann Jadallah all return to help lead a Cardinals squad hoping to build off of last season’s district semifinal appearance.

“Last year’s seniors were absolutely phenomenal — great leaders, great ladies, teammates, but the juniors were right there with them every step of the way,” said assistant coach Erin Angelo. “It was almost like we had eight team leaders, it was wonderful and it set a nice tone. And just like last year, we have a very unselfish group of girls with a lot of talent and very high softball IQ.”

Head coach Joe Angelo added that he thinks this year’s squad has a higher ceiling and perhaps more potential than the team did last season. Madison had the highest batting average on last year’s team, plus Kelly will continue to corral the Cardinals’ defense as catcher.

This group of seniors learned a lot from last year’s, especially with the “family” atmosphere and the “camaraderie” that the program tries to promote amongst its players.

“A lot of times last year, they would demonstrate to the other girls what we’re supposed to be doing during practices and games, so if we just continue that, then we’ll be good,” Kinnick said of how last year’s seniors led by example.

In the circle, junior Bella Kennedy and sophomore Malena Toth will split pitching duties for Canfield, while Jadallah will also get some innings, as well. Joe said Kennedy and Toth’s pitching styles complement each other well for what the Cardinals want to do.

Offense is something the Cardinals will be able to lean on throughout the season, especially with more hitting depth and ability to put the ball in play up and down the roster.

“We did lose a senior from last year who hit the highest number of home runs in Lauren Fitzgerald,” Joe said. “But, I’ll take nine girls who can hit singles and gaps all day long.”

“Our bats are a big thing, because if you can’t score, you can’t win,” Madison said.

However, if the Cardinals want to get back to the district semis or beyond that point, Joe emphasized that they will have to “execute” better in certain situations and moments.

For example, Canfield was just a successful bunt away last season from being able to pull out its extra innings loss to Hubbard in the playoffs.

“I think as a group we all need to have that mindset and drive to really want to get further in the tournament,” Kinnick said. “I think last year it just kind of died off too soon.”

Canfield is scheduled to open its season against Austintown Fitch at 5 p.m. Monday.