When a team loses several players from its previous season, coaches are forced to look to fresh faces to fill the holes in the lineup.

The Eastern softball program knows what it feels like to have to rely on new people, with several freshmen and a transfer student getting time in the field this season.

Not only are these players receiving some playing time, some are already contributing solid numbers 20 games into the year.

Outfielder Cassandra North leads the team in batting average with .306 and currently has the team’s lone home run. North holds both of these accomplishments, but the coaching staff didn’t even intend to recruit her.

Head coach Lloydene Searle and assistant coach Becky Norris saw North at a tournament in Mattoon, but were originally going to see someone else.

“We went to a tournament to see a pitcher and saw (North),” Searle said. “We contcated her and said ‘hey come to Eastern and play softball for us.’ It ended up being a nice recruiting trip for us.”

Another player Searle feels is moving along nicely is pitcher Ashley Condon. The Glen Ellyn native holds a record of 0-3 in four appearances for the Panthers, but Searle says Condon has what it takes to play at the college level.

“In the fall she played well, and she has pitched well early on,” Searle said. “She’s one that I think can be effective at this level, and we certainly want to get her some playing time to see what she can do.”

With Eastern already having experienced starters in senior Kristen Becker and junior Trish Sanders, Condon will see limited time but will be able to get a year to work with the veterans on the staffand not have the pressure of an every day player.

“I don’t feel like I have the pressure on me because they are here,” Condon said. “I just need to come in and do my job.”

The last of the three true freshmen, infielder Jenny Cervetto, is another player getting some quality playing time in her first year. Cervetto has started in 14 games this season and has started slowly at the plate but has been a consistent fielder.

“She had some good defensive showings that showed us what she could do,” Searle said. “She has been kind of down on herself because she hasnt been hitting the ball.”

The other three new faces are redshirt freshmen Nicole Eichelberger and Melissa Boente and transfer Mandy Lindwall.

Lindwall has started 16 games and gives Searle a consistent infielder on the left side of the diamond. Boente was a walk-on player last year and Searle likes her ability to hit both left and right-handed pitchers.

“She’s a good lefty and righty hitter,” Searle said. “She has a lot of ability and can put the defense on the their heels. She works hard and I think she will continue to get better with time and experience.”

Eichelberger is a player Searle would have liked to play last year, but the backup catcher was sidelined with an injury.

“I really wanted to try her last year, but that didn’t take place because she had a cast on her foot,” Searle said. “She has come out this year with a strong start.”