NATCHEZ — Natchez High School softball is just a few days away from opening its season Monday at home against Wingfield, and the timing isn’t ideal since the season starts a week after spring break.

Perhaps most wouldn’t be able to tell Natchez High students were on a break as the majority of Bonita Hamilton’s 26-player squad has been practicing since Sunday.

“I was out of town (Sunday),” Hamilton said. “They called and asked to practice so I rushed back home. So far, so good. They are eager, and they want to be successful.”

Hamilton said her squad is young, equipped with mostly eighth and ninth graders. Hamilton, however, remains confident the “big” squad she has right now will be a cohesive one, as several of the young players have been coming up together for the past year.

“A lot of girls played in the summer league,” Hamilton said. “They played together and I’m trying to build for the future.”

There are two seniors on the Natchez softball squad. One of those players is second baseman Taylor Fry.

“I think we’re better (than years past). I like the team this year,” Fry said. “I think we’re going to have a pretty good year.”

On Tuesday, Hamilton was still assessing who would start.

The Natchez softball coach said having so many players to choose from is a good problem to have, but said a second or third pitcher will need to emerge.

“I’m still try to figure out who will be the starters. I have a lot of girls with the potential to be starters,” Hamilton said. “The only things is I’m looking for pitchers. One pitcher coming back this year was our second pitcher last season, and she will be starting this year.”

Hamilton said whoever is added to Natchez’s rotation will have to eat up innings and give the Bulldogs some longevity.

The focus of practice prior to the opener has been primarily defense — cutting down on errors, backing up throws and being in the right place at the right time.

The Lady Bulldogs’ eagerness to get onto the field is a good sign to Hamilton.

“I’m looking for great things to happen,” she said. “We will be successful this year. We have a lot of girls this year that played last year. That plays an important role because they’re used to each other. I have a few new girls, but they have fast-pitch experience.”