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Herbert Hoover returns six starters from a squad that peaked late in winning a Class AA crown, its second since 2014. And with plenty of experience, both are off to rip-roaring starts in 2018, with Hurricane having won its first seven games and Hoover also starting the season undefeated at 3-0.

The Redskins’ Meghan Stevens is in her first year as head coach after serving as an assistant under Josh Caldwell for nine years. There’s plenty of familiarity and continuity with the team, and Stevens said she will simply try to keep the ball rolling.

“It’s pretty much keeping things business as usual, because why change?” Stevens said. “If it’s not broke, I don’t want to fool with it too much.”

Even after losing the two-time state player of the year Katie Adams and outfielder Paige Scruggs — both of whom are continuing their careers on the college level at Marshall and Morehead State, respectively — Stevens has quite an arsenal at her disposal. Seven of the nine players in Hurricane’s lineup are currently committed to play college softball.

Highlighting that list are outfielder Kiersten Landers and third baseman Jayme Bailey, both seniors who will go to Florida State and Virginia Tech, respectively, next year. Junior shortstop Caiti Mathes is also committed to play for the Hokies.

Junior catcher Zoey Dunlap will attend Youngstown State after high school with junior first baseman Taylor McCray heading to St. Leo. Sophomores Harlie Vannatter (pitcher) and Lindsey Phares (second base) will attend Bowling Green and Wisconsin-Green Bay, respectively.

Landers (.558, 37 steals, 55 runs in 2017), Bailey (.495, five home runs, 10 doubles, 44 RBIs, 19 steals) and Vannatter (20-1, 1.09 ERA, 11 shutouts) were all first-team All-State selections last year, with Mathes (seven home runs, 37 RBIs) making the second team a year after being a first-team selection as a freshman.

As talented as the Redskins are, and with as much success as the team has had in recent years, Stevens said the leadership of players like Bailey is as paramount as her contributions on the field, especially when it comes to helping the program maintain its lofty perch for years to come.

“Making them understand that this is who we are and we can’t take it for granted,” Stevens said of her younger players. “We need to bring it every day and focus — we can’t just show up. Leaders like Jayme make that a lot easier for us. She leads by example, she leads with words … she’s just an awesome teammate.”

Landers is assuming some of the pitching load after Vannatter threw a bulk of Hurricane’s innings a year ago, spelled by Adams and, occasionally, Torie Green.

• George Washington (24-8) — A pair of first-team All-Valley athletes returns for the Patriots in shortstop-reliever Grant Wells (.333, 22 RBIs, 15 steals, 8-8 saves) and catcher-utility Aidan Johnson (.392, five HRs, 35 RBIs, 2.33 ERA). Other key contributors are infielder Brayden McCallister (.323, 20 RBIs, 17 steals), utility Evan Hughes (.321), pitcher Trey Ritchie (4-1), outfielder Preston Taylor (.283) and catcher Tanner Williams (.273).

• Sissonville (17-11) — The top three returnees for the Indians are third baseman-pitcher Caden Carpenter (.362, 18 RBIs, 3-2 pitching, 29 Ks), catcher-outfielder Cayd Snyder (.333) and first baseman-pitcher Michael Pinkerton (.545 in 11 games). Other leading players are utility Will Hackney, infielder Scott Soblit, outfielder Evan Smith and first baseman-outfielder Gage St. Clair.

• Nitro (17-13) — Senior outfielder and lefty pitcher Mike Stone (.454, 24 RBIs) is a returning first-team AA all-state and All-Valley player. Other key seniors back include outfielder Josh Adkins (.414), pitcher Ryan Hill (3-3, 43 Ks in 31 IP, 2.71 ERA), infielder Matt Hill (.374, 21 RBIs, 4-1 pitching), infielder Jason Douglas (.291, 24 runs), outfielder Jake Hamrick and utility Sean Green.

• Winfield (15-14) — Pitcher-infielder Brett Morris (.383, 2.85 ERA, 37 Ks) heads the returnees for the Generals, who also sport plenty more experience in outfielder Nick Ferguson (.329, 20 runs, 21 steals), catcher Aaron Blackwell (.315, 17 RBIs), pitcher-infielder Nick Edwards (3-2, 30 IP, 26 Ks) and utility man Sam Ingram (11 steals, 26 IP).

• Buffalo (15-16) — The Bison are strong behind the plate with senior catcher Hunter Whittington (.362, 18 RBIs), a four-year starter. Other top position players include junior infielder Brandon Dillman (.267) and junior outfielder Dylan Jividen, who can also pitch.

• Herbert Hoover (13-17) — The Huskies return two of their top hitters with infielder Derek Chapman (.400, 16 RBIs) and utility man Justin Stover (.360, 31 runs, 16 RBIs). Pitchers with the most experience are Chapman (27 IP, 25 Ks) and Rhett White, who also plays infield.

• South Charleston (11-16) — Infielder Corey Lanier (.443, 25 runs, 14 steals) is a returning first-team All-Valley player, and left-hander Alex Jarrell is dual threat pitching (5-3, 57 Ks, 1.71 ERA) and hitting (.369, 23 RBIs). Other top returnees for the Black Eagles are catcher Ty Sizemore (.325), infielder Tyler Atkinson (.313), infielder Max Arbogast (.284) and pitchers Nick Workman (2.77 ERA) and Jeremy Graley (37 Ks in 431/3 IP). Freshman utility man Tyson Burke is also ticketed for a big role.

• Capital (9-21) — Outfielder Andrew Sydenstricker (.358, 17 RBIs) is the Cougars’ top returning hitter, with other position players including first baseman Ryan Thomas (.348), utility Michael Stuck (.276), infielder Grant Thompson, utility Cam Thomas and outfielder Logan Spurlock. Cam Thomas (372/3 IP) has the most pitching experience, followed by Greg Schott (272/3 IP).

• Poca (6-21) — The Dots bring back two of the Kanawha Valley’s top hitters in pitcher-infielder Chaz Roberts (.400) and outfielder Evan McKneely (.357, 16 RBI, 10 stolen bases). Freshman catcher-shortstop-pitcher Ethan Payne, a football and basketball standout, will also contribute heavily.

• Riverside (5-20) — The Warriors return their two most-experienced pitchers in Chris Buchanan (431/3 IP, 3.23 ERA) and Ryan McNeal (36 IP, 29 Ks). Some of the top hitters include first baseman Chase Thomas (.260, 21 walks), outfielder Blake Wentz and designated hitter Jacob Pierson (.333 in 15 at-bats). Buchanan also plays outfield, McNeal second base and Pierson pitches.

Contact Rick Ryan at 304-348-5175 or rickryan@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @RickRyanWV.

Jalen Bridges, Fairmont Senior, Jr.

Jude Akabueze, North Marion, Sr.

Jeremy Dillon, Mingo Central, Sr.

David Shriver, Philip Barbour, Sr.

Second team

Mookie Collier, Bluefield, Sr. (captain)

David Early, Logan, So.

Shane Jenkins, Westside, Sr.

Braeden McGrew, Winfield, Sr.

Andrew Work, Oak Hill, Jr.

Joel Sweat, Nitro, Jr.

Corey Hatfield, Westside, Sr.

Luke LeRose, Nicholas County, So.