Hoping to return to their championship level of play, the No. 5 Arizona softball team will be relying on the freshman infielders to step up when their season opens Feb. 10 in Tempe.

While most of the team will come back for the 2006 season, the infield returns only junior shortstop Kristie Fox and sophomore catcher Callista Balko.

"It's (Fox's) third year, and she's able to help them know what to expect," Arizona assistant coach Larry Ray said.

Fox said she isn't scared and won't down from her new role. With her experience, she is focusing on helping the new girls out and supporting them if they need it.

"The girls we recruit are very smart and play at the hardest level, so I'll help them out during the games and keep them focused," she said.

Balko said she will also will be looked upon as a leader this year, although she is only a sophomore.

"I've been put into a role to do it, and I think coaches believe I can be there," Balko said. "It's kind of something I want to take advantage of rather than looking at it as pressure.

"Catching for anybody is a position of leadership, so I'm looking into that to be a 'leader' place for me."

Balko moved to the catching position after sophomore transfer Erin Slettvet failed to qualify academically, a situation the team found out about at the start of this semester.

The Wildcats will also rely on junior college transfer Chelsie Mesa, a junior second baseman, to play a major role.

"It won't take Chelsie long to adapt and develop leadership qualities," Ray said.

Mesa helped Phoenix College win consecutive national championships during her two years there, being awarded tournament Most Valuable Player honors both seasons.

"(Mesa)'s going to be hitting in the third or fourth spot and is stepping into a big, big role, and she looks like she's going to handle it well," Fox said.

Mesa said there have been a few differences between playing at the junior college level and the Division I level.

"The level of play (is better) having each of your teammates being up there with you and each of your teammates having equal amount of talent instead of it being spaced about," Mesa said.

Not only will Fox and Mesa be playing next to each other defensively, but they will go back-to-back in batting order as well. Mesa is seen as a strong hitter who will provide protection for Fox in the cleanup spot, Ray said.

"(Mesa) hits the ball hard," Ray said. "She's got a solid swing, and she makes contact most of the time. We're excited about her possibilities."

Freshmen round out the rest of the infield as Laine Roth will start at first base, while Sam Banister and Jenae Leles are scheduled to platoon at third base.

"Laine had a good fall and Sam's been doing extremely well, which is their ticket to be in the lineup," Ray said.

Ray said the main difference for the freshmen involves the terms that are used at Arizona, adding that they have adapted well to the team's style of play.

"The freshmen are all working extremely hard and playing at the right level," Ray said.

Yet once the season begins and Pacific 10 Conference play starts, things get more stressful.

"Obviously, in the Pac-10, it's pretty much the most competitive conference out there, so I think that just facing pitchers and facing failure is a huge part in learning how to deal with that," said Balko.

The hardest part for the freshmen is getting used to their teammates' style of play, Fox said, but practicing in the fall helped the girls adjust to one another.

"It's been easy, and we're all working really well together," Fox said.

Mesa said all of the freshmen are taking their roles well.

"They each have an important role due to the small number we're carrying this year, but I feel that they'll do great because they're working really hard," she said.

With all of the differences they all have one thing in common: confidence.

Once the confidence is there it will go a long way, Ray said.

"Pulling for each other and togetherness will help us," Ray said. "It's not always about the most talented."

Togetherness doesn't seem to be lacking from this year's team, and with such a close group, making a national championship run doesn't seem to be a hard task to accomplish.