Benicia High’s varsity softball team enjoyed the sweet taste of a Sac-Joaquin Section championship last year and would like to take another bite this season.

Six of the nine starters from last year’s SJS title team return to defend the crown. With three quality pitchers and a potent lineup, there’s no reason to think the Lady Panthers won’t contend for another championship.

Manager Jeana Gevas – who guided the Lady Panthers to their first section championship since her own Benicia playing days in 2000 – left the program after one season. Returning to guide the ship is Kristin Grubbs, who was awkwardly dumped as manager at the tail end of the 2013 season.

Grubbs knows there’s a lot of pressure trying to follow up a Section champion but welcomes the challenge.

“It’s very hard to repeat as Section champions,” Grubbs noted. “Every season is a new season, but getting back to that championship game is definitely one of our goals this year. Once you get a taste of that success, it’s not something you want to give up.”

Pitching shouldn’t be a problem. Sophomore McKenna Gregory – Benicia’s No. 2 pitcher last year – returns after going 2-1 with two saves and a 0.83 earned-run average. Also returning is veteran Brianna Schlattman, who tossed 16 2/3 innings last year without giving up an earned run.

An added ace is senior Victoria Mackey, who sat out last season. Mackey started in last Thursday’s 16-2 season-opening victory at Woodland and threw a complete game.

“We’re blessed with pitching,” Grubbs said. “All three of them are good and they all bring something different to the mound. It makes it hard on me as a coach because I can only put one in that pitching circle. But they’re really good teammates and they understand they’ll have secondary roles a lot.”

The Lady Panthers are also blessed with a deep bench. The middle of the lineup rotates around Gregory and junior Shelby Thompson, two All-SCAC picks from last season. Gregory ripped a two-run homer in the season’s first inning against Woodland and Thompson blasted a grand slam in an 11-run fifth inning.

Senior Alana Combes was All-SCAC First Team last year while veterans Allie Bullock and Mallory Barnard were Honorable Mentions. Lindsay Zimmer, Olivia DeJesu, Courtney Bowling, Annika Johnson, Nataschia Wibben, Katie Vretzos and freshman Adriana Chavez all bring something to the table. Vretzos hit an inside-the-park home run against Woodland.

“They all could be starters,” Grubbs said. “It’s a very versatile team that plays multiple positions. And they all have a great team mentality. They’ve all been there before and understand what it takes to get to that championship game.”

The Lady Panthers (1-0) open the Solano County Athletic Conference season Tuesday at Bethel. Benicia’s home opener is Wednesday against Vallejo.

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