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Members of the 2008 Lady Raider softball team are, front (from left): Mary Fluharty, Sammy Sloan, Morgan Cottrell, Paige Garrett, Callie Jones, Rebekah Ricks; middle: Cheyenne Hall, Beth Garrett, Clarissa Pinson, Ashli Knotts, Kate Williams, Samantha Hayes, Emily Parsons; back: Brittany Harris, Annie Hodge, Gwen Freeland, Courtney Dawson, Breanna Mathewson, Allie Mills, Megan Keaton, Michele Carpenter, Jessica Vannoy. SUE KNOTTS PHOTO

All except one of the Lady Raiders — pitcher Amanda Shafer — are back from last season’s team that finished 19-12. The talented returners will be tested early with a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., during which they will share a large beach house.

“First of all, we’ll get to play top-rate competition and the second thing is coming together as a team,” Roane coach Sam Salvucci said. “Spending the week together, we’ll come together like a family. I’m hoping in the long run it helps us.”

The Lady Raiders are set to play five games March 24-28 on fields at Myrtle Beach’s municipal park and air force base. The first three opponents are set: defending tourney champ The Institute of Notre Dame from Baltimore on Monday, host Myrtle Beach on Tuesday and Paul VI of Fairfax, Va., on Wednesday.

Roane is scheduled to open its 2008 season at home against South Charleston on Tuesday. Salvucci knows who will be in the lineup for that game, but not necessarily where they’ll be playing.

“We’ve only been outside once,” he said earlier this week. “We’re still in the process of moving people around.”

The team’s top returner is junior Cheyenne Hall, a first-team Class AA all-state pick last season. Hall, the daughter of Lady Raider assistant coach Rocky Hall, hit .457 with a pair of homers and 25 RBIs. She also swiped 29 bases.

“She’s a good all-around player,” Salvucci said. “She’s good defensively and she hits the ball hard.”

Hall is among a group of infielders that includes juniors Megan Keaton, Sammy Sloan and Annie Hodge along with sophomores Kate Williams and Breanna Mathewson, a newcomer. Keaton hit .333 last season and Williams .317.

Senior catcher Michele Carpenter is also back, as are experienced outfielders led by junior Morgan Cottrell. Another all-around player, Cottrell, a second-team all-stater who joined Hall on the LKC first team, hit .432 as a sophomore with five triples and 34 stolen bases.

Senior Allie Mills, junior Paige Garrett and sophomore Clarissa Pinson will also play in the outfield.

Roane’s pitching will fall to junior Ashli Knotts, a second team all-conference pick who also earned special honorable mention all-state honors.

“She knows the game real good and she’s very competitive,” Salvucci said.

Knotts had six wins last year and finished with 64 strikeouts. Keaton will also see some mound action.

“I think we’ll be able to score some runs,” Salvucci said. “A lot will depend on how well we play defense and how good our pitching is.”

Roane will also play Ripley, Nicholas County and Webster County before the spring trip. Later games will come against LKC South rivals before the conference tournament April 24-25 and the May 1 sectional against nemesis Ritchie County on May 1.

Staying home for the tournaments would seem to set up the perfect scenario for the Lady Raiders to have a successful season.

“Let’s hope it works out that way,” Salvucci said.