The Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) Sea Lions softball squad opened the 2009 campaign against Cal State San Bernardino in a double-header Tuesday and against Cal State San Marcos today. “We’re excited to open the new season because of our two returning All-American pitchers Melissa Gomez and second baseman Kayla Luttmers,” said PLNU head softball coach Dave Williams. The Sea Lions are coming off both a successful and disappointing 2008 season in which they posted a dominating 50-12 overall record, finished with a No. 2 overall ranking in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and placed third in the national tournament. “Anytime you get close and don’t win it’s a tough pill to swallow,” said Williams. “If you don’t win, it doesn’t make any difference if it was a good game.” Despite the disappointing ending to the 2008 postseason, the Sea Lions are likely to have another deep, talented roster, particularly on the pitching staff. Gomez and junior Tyler Lent — both 2008 All-Americans — anchor the rotation, along with junior Kira Wommer, sophomore Katie Nagler and freshman Cassie Monahan. It might be a different story on offense, however, after Amanda Addie and Paige Powell, PLNU’s top two scorers and base stealers from 2008, graduated this past year. After two very successful seasons and having entered this year being ranked at No. 2 overall, Williams believes his players are not looking ahead to the playoffs in May and that most of his players — especially the younger ones — are simply concentrating on battling for a starting a position. “We have a lot of uncertainties in our lineup, with only a few positions sewn up right now,” Williams said. Sophomore Taran Lent and freshman Alexandra Wilkinson are in a battle for the catching position while juniors Jenel Guadagno, Jessica Amador and sophomore Tina Keys appear to be the starting outfield after all three of the Sea Lions 2008 starting outfielders graduated. In addition to Luttmers at second base, juniors Jill Schaefer and Samantha Hall are also returning players who should be able to shore up the infield positions. “I think that it is a very different team than last year,” said Luttmers, a senior. “We have a few starting players returning this year and will be developing our team as we get to know each other on and off the field. We want to win the conference this year. We’ve been a great team for many years but we haven’t been able to win the conference or national title yet.” Since Williams was hired in 1998 as head coach, the Sea Lions have put together a streak of 11 straight winning seasons, three Golden State Athletic Conference titles (2002, 2003 and 2004), three regional playoff titles (2001, 2003 and 2004) and eight straight appearances in the nationals. But the teams have come up empty the last four years when it came to winning a title of any kind, despite an overall record of 187-55 since 2005. “Pitching will have to be the backbone of our team early on, and will have to pull us along. Obviously we’re a much different team from last year,” Luttmers said. There will also be a greater emphasis on winning the conference title after the NAIA changed playoff formats from the regional playoffs to a conference tournament round for each of the 22 conferences. The winners of each conference get an automatic berth in the nationals with the remainder of the playoff spots going to at-large teams from the conferences or independent teams. “After practicing 6 days a week for 3 weeks we’re ready to play someone else,” Williams said.