Senior Megan Dille practice bunting inside the batting cage."We'll look at implementing a bit more small ball this year," coach Barbara Patana said.

ILWACO — An excited Lady Fishermen softball team is eager to get the season started.

Ilwaco has 15 players on the roster season, including seven returning starters from a team that finished 8-10 last season before bowing out in district play.

Among the returning starters are all-leaguers in senior Megan Dille and sophomore Kaylee Anderson.

Dille provided some memorable moments on the mound last season, including pitching three perfect games in a row. Anderson made her impact at the plate and on the bases, including an inside-the-park home run.

With only two seniors on the roster, the Lady Fishermen will count on several underclassmen this season.

“We’re a young team,” said Ilwaco softball head coach Barbara Patana.

“Right now we have three pitchers: senior Megan Dille, junior Emma Frame and sophomore Toby Graves. We have a couple kids from last year that will see more time and some incoming freshmen and two 8th graders that we’ve pulled up as well.”

Ilwaco will look to emphasize their overall speed and base running ability this season.

“Our strength this year is a willingness to try new things,” Patana said.

“We’ll look at implementing a bit more small ball this year, especially with girls who are newer to this level.”

The Lady Fishermen will compete in a deep 2B Pacific League division.

The 2B and 1B divisions underwent some shuffling this year, including softball power Ocosta moving from 2B to 1B.

“There’s been a lot of change in the league this year. We’ll still play Ocosta twice, but they won’t be a league opponent. Pe Ell/Willapa Valley is always a tough opponent for us. We’ll just have to take it week by week.”

Coach Patana, who previously coached the Ilwaco softball team during the 2019 and 2020 season, is joined by assistants Ruby Anderson, Gordon Dille and Jackie Cunningham.

“I’m really excited and the girls are excited to be here, which makes a huge difference. We’re having fun and looking forward to a competitive season,” Patana said.

This year the Ilwaco varsity softball team will play their games at the Ilwaco Community Park instead of Culbertson Park in Long Beach.

Ilwaco softball 2025 season schedule

March 14 Hoquiam (a)

March 18 Ocosta (a)

March 25 PeEll-Williapa Valley (h) d/h

April 1 Raymond-South Bend (a) d/h

April 3 Naselle (a)

April 15 Chief Leschi, Puyallup (a) d/h

April 22 North Beach (h) d/h

April 24 Naselle (h)

April 29 Forks (a) d/h

May 1 Ocosta (h)

May 6 Wahkiakum (h)

Post season TBA

Home games at Ilwaco Community Park

Games start at 4 p.m.; doubleheaders 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

d/h denotes doubleheader

All dates and times subject to change