BLAINE

BORDERITES

Coach: Alisa Burk

Last year: Finished sixth in the Class 2A Northwest Conference standings with a 5-8 record. ... Did not qualify for postseason and finished 6-14 overall.

Players to watch: Margaret Williams (sr., 3B/OF); Lexi McElwain (jr., IF/P); Ashley Bolick (sr., P/1B/OF); Hanna Kiele (so., P/OF)

Outlook: Second-year Blaine coach Alisa Burk has seen tremendous improvement in her club since the start of last year, and the Borderites are hoping that development helps Blaine take another step towards earning a postseason berth. "So far we are looking good, and we have a lot of returners coming back," Burk said in a phone interview. All-NWC second teamer Lexi McElwain is one of those. She took on an unexpected pitching role last year and will be in the circle again this year, but she'll spend more time in the infield. One player anxious to return to the diamond after missing last season is senior pitcher, first baseman and outfielder Ashley Bolick, who Burk said is a strong leader on the field. Senior Margaret Williams, who was voted team offensive MVP last year, returns to third base and gives Blaine a strong bat in the middle of the order. "We have come a long ways, and we want to keep improving and make that jump," Burk said.

2013 ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Pos.

4 Ashley Bolick Sr. P/1B/OF

13 Margaret Williams Sr. 3B/OF

18 Ashleigh Melendez Sr. N/A

8 Baylee Foster Jr. N/A

7 Lexi McElwain Jr. IF/P

12 Selena Pai Jr. N/A

1 Kayla Ubil Jr. N/A

11 Samantha Southland Jr. N/A

2 Lexi Greguski So. N/A

16 Jessica Belding So. N/A

6 Jolee Russell So. N/A

10 Mikayla Deming So. N/A

9 Hanna Kiele So. P/OF

15 Nicole Ortega So. N/A

5 Dacia Blanco Fr. N/A

19 Riley Miller Fr. N/A

2013 SCHEDULE

March 12 Bellingham (Pipeline) 4:30 p.m.

March 15 Squalicum (Pipeline) 4:30 p.m.

March 19 at Lynden Christian (Bender) 4:30 p.m.

March 22 at Burlington-Edison* 4 p.m.

March 26 Lynden Christian (Pipeline)* 4:30 p.m.

March 28 Nooksack Valley (Pipeline)* 4:30 p.m.

April 3 Alumni game (Pipeline) 5:30 p.m.

April 5 at Royal 3 p.m.

April 6 at Cascade 1 p.m.

April 9 at Anacortes* 6 p.m.

April 11 at Bellingham* 4 p.m.

April 15 Ferndale (Pipeline)* 4:30 p.m.*

April 19 at Meridian* 4 p.m.

April 20 at Friday Harbor noon

April 23 Sehome (Pipeline)* 4:30 p.m.

April 26 at Squalicum* 4 p.m.

April 30 at Mount Baker* 4:30 p.m.

May 3 Lynden (Pipeline)* 4:30 p.m.

May 3 Lynden (Pipeline) 6:30 p.m.

May 7 at Sedro-Woolley (Janicki) 5 p.m.

*NWC game

Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.