OTTUMWA — The future of Ottumwa softball is now.

Rebuilding is a term that Frank Huston seldom mutters, if at all. He’ll send a whole new stockpile of talent out onto the ball diamond in 2008 when his Bulldogs start the season at Fort Madison tonight.

Gone will be familiar faces like Caitlin Davis, Morgan Olson and Khyia Lewis. Nine seniors — eight of them starters —  from Huston’s third-place team at state have graduated. Stars like Ali and Karie Downing — all-state performers for the Bulldogs that played in two state tournaments and won 120 games.

That’s a big void to fill, but the Bulldogs should be up to the challenge.

“I think the people that have marked us on the calendar as an easy mark because we’ve lost a lot are going to be surprised at the ability of our team,” said Huston, who enters his 35th season of leading Ottumwa and 42nd season overall.

Ottumwa is ranked 13th in the Class 4A Preseason Poll released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. The Bulldogs played to a 40-12 record in 2007. That impressive record is another pile of wins for Huston that has him within seven wins of 1,500 victories in his Hall of Fame coaching career.

Huston is a legend in his sport where he is the second all-time winningest prep softball coach in nation. He also sports the state’s best highest winning percentage (.811).

In order to fulfill the always high expectations his teams face every season, he’ll have to get it done with numerous fresh faces and rely on three key senior leaders in McKenzie Cason, Tricia Bix and Whitney Reber.

“The successful experience that Bix, Cason and Reber have is just a plus — a big plus,” said Huston.

Cason will be making a position switch. She started as a freshman at second base on the 2005 OHS state squad and will move from third base to centerfield this season. Cason broke the state record at last year’s state tournament with five RBI in one game. She has a strong arm and will be a speedy baserunner on a squad that Huston mentioned isn’t exactly sporting serious speed.

Cason has signed on to play at Indian Hills Community College.

Bulldog senior Tricia Bix will replace Cason at third base. Like Cason, Bix has started in six state tournament games. She started at shortstop her freshman year at state.

A big source of Ottumwa’s power will come from lefthanded hitting senior first baseman Whitney Reber, who was mainly a designated hitter a year ago.

“Reber is a legitimate power hitter. You better back up,” said Huston.

Huston’s other senior is Kaity Peden, who split time catching with Jeanie Stice last year. Two strong hitting prospects in sophomore Lindsey Evans and freshman Liz Cason — McKenzie’s sister — will also vie for time behind the plate. Peden started roughly a third of the season for Ottumwa in 2007 and is the only catcher back with defensive experience at the varsity level.