BIDDEFORD — When filling out a softball scorecard, the pitcher is designated as the No. 1 position. That will hold true as well for the University of New England softball team this season, as the Nor’easters will be heavy on pitching.

“I believe pitching will be one of our strengths, as we add Sara Pelkey to our staff which is returning three pitchers from last year,” said UNE head coach Dan Letellier.

Pelkey is a transfer from Daniel Webster College, where the junior was named team MVP last year. She’ll add her talents to a four-headed monster in the circle, as she joins returning juniors Abby Lambert and Lauren Doneski and returning sophomore Katelyn Austin.

Lambert was the ace of the staff a season ago, as she finished with a 2.89 ERA in 20 appearances (15 starts). Doneski and Austin made 14 and 11 starts, respectively.

Those pitchers will see a relatively new face behind the plate, as sophomore Paige Moore-Haskell ”“ a Scarborough native ”“ takes the reigns at catcher after the graduation of Jess Potter and Ali Stanley. Moore-Haskell started just six of UNE’s 40 games last season and recorded 25 plate appearances.

The youth for UNE doesn’t end at catcher, as the Nor’easters also must replace reigning Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Year Amanda Vaudreuil at shortstop and a team leader in outfielder Allie Frazier.

“Our weakness will be we are a real young team at key positions,” said Letellier.

In total, Letellier has to find new players to step in at two of the three outfield positions and two of four infield spots.

Leading the returning charge in the field is first baseman/outfielder Adrienne Chase, who is the lone senior on the roster. Chase was second on the team in batting average last year, as her .420 mark was behind only Vaudreuil.

Juniors Kelly Murphy (third base) and Amanda Vallante (center field) join Chase as captains and go-to players in the field and at the plate. Vallante was fourth on the team in batting last season, and Murphy eighth.

Letellier said he expects junior transfer Mollie Bartles ”“ another player from Daniel Webster ”“ and freshman Jess Diaz to contribute at multiple positions in the field.

The Nor’easters will be looking to stay among the CCC’s elite this season, as they’ve won at least 2/3rds of their conference games in each of Letellier’s first five seasons. However, UNE hasn’t won a game in the conference tournament since an undefeated tournament run to the CCC title in 2012.

Keeping pace in the CCC will be no easy task this season, according to Letellier.

“Our conference is always tough, so games against Endicott, Salve Regina and Western New England will always be tough, but then Roger Williams and Curry are nothing to overlook either,” said Letellier.

Endicott and Salve Regina tied for the top spot in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll, with Western New England slotted third ahead of UNE.

The Nor’easters have some work to do to compete with the three teams atop them in the poll. Letellier said the key for his young team is to focus on its own game.

“We just need to focus on the job at hand. We can’t be afraid to make a mistake as if we’re scared to make a mistake; this will lead us to make more,” said Letellier. “We just need to go out and play the game and work to get better as the season goes on.”

UNE opens its season Saturday against both Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and two-time defending national champion Tufts ”“ ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division III Preseason Coaches Poll ”“ in Clermont, Florida. The Nor’easters have 10 games scheduled during their Florida trip before opening conference at home against Wentworth on March 24.

— Sports Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or sports@journaltribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.