TRACY — After relying on a number of young players last season, the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton softball team will look to take another step forward this season. The Panthers return some key pieces in Melaina Ankrum and Gretchen Lanoue, and will look to rely on their continued development as they make strides within the Camden Conference.

TMB finished last season with an 8-12 record, falling to Murray County Central as the No. 7 seed in the first round of the Section 3A tournament.

While the Panthers do have some roster turnover from last year, they do return both of their primary pitchers in Ankrum and Lanoue.

As just a freshman last season, Lanoue shouldered a heavy workload. She pitched 83 1/3 innings, finishing wih a 7.39 ERA and 71 strikeouts and is poised to make another leap this season. Ankrum, meanwhile, compiled an 8.36 ERA with 35 strikeouts over 32 2/3 innings in her sophomore season last year.

As big of a role as Ankrum played in the circle for the Panthers, her play at the plate was perhaps even more importsnt. She had something of a breakout year for the Panthers last season, putting together a .514 on-base percentage and a .694 slugging percentage, including two home runs, three triples, five doubles and 15 RBIs. Each of those numbers was a team-high for the season.

Lanoue also got off to a strong freshman season with a .758 OPS, and Rosa Vang and Aliyah Loftness were both over .800.

Alli Dolan was successful in minimal appearances last season, putting together a 1.026 OPS with three doubles and four singles in just 19 at-bats. Now in her freshman season, Dolan is slated to be a key contributor for the Panthers.

TMB rosters a strong group of seniors this year, including Vang, Loftness, Piper Freeburg, Avery Torgeson and Cheyenne Hoffman. Still, the roster remains young with six freshman and an eighth grader.

Through the first four games this year, TMB has gotten off to a much stronger start. They’re already 3-1, including a 6-5 revenge win over Murray County Central, and they scored at least six runs in each of those games.