Last year, the College of San Mateo softball team used a veteran-laden pitching staff and a batting order that could mash. This year, the pitching staff is all freshmen or first-year players and the Bulldogs will rely on speed and trying to manufacture runs on offense.

The Bulldogs need to mature quickly this season if they want a shot at repeating as conference champions and making a run deep into the playoffs.

They benefit from having a nucleus of sophomores at key positions and to fill leadership roles but it will be the play of a freshmen pitching staff that will ultimately determine their fate.

“As a freshman, you’re going to make mistakes,” said coach Nicole Borg. “The sooner you learn from them, the better.”

With the season opening Saturday against Reedley College at Diablo Valley College, Borg is still deciding on a starting pitcher. Kay Lani Dillender and Chloe Scudder appear to have the inside track but Borg hasn’t quite made up her mind on who will take the ball for the opener — or she isn’t telling.

“Dillender puts the ball where she wants it. She’s not overwhelming,” Borg said. “Scudder is a stronger pitcher.”

Scudder was a surprise addition to the Bulldogs’ squad. Borg said she intended to go to Notre Dame de Namur but needed another math class. She enrolled at CSM and Borg suddenly had another starting pitcher. Jessica Woodley is a sophomore but will be pitching for the first time, mostly in relief.

The Bulldogs’ strength is in the outfield with three sophomores who have plenty of experience — Angela Woerz, Stephanie Perera and Amanda Johnson. Also returning is catcher Kaylene Bolla, who will not only be counted on to guide a young pitching staff but also to provide some pop.

The Bulldogs will need all the help they can get offensively. A power-hitting team last season, the Bulldogs’ offense will resemble a more traditional softball attack — a lot of speed and a lot of bunting to get runners on and move them around the bases.

“We hit a lot of home runs last year,” Borg said. “This year we don’t have as much power. But hopefully we can get on base and run the bases.”

CSM has a short amount of time to sort everything out. The Bulldogs play only five non-conference games before starting Coast Conference play Feb. 7 against visiting Foothill. The Coast Conference was one of the strongest in Northern California last season with CSM and Ohlone in the North and San Jose City College one of the best in the state playing in the Coast Conference South.

Because of the quick start to conference play, the fall season took on added importance. The handful of scrimmages from early September to mid-Novemeber was the time to work the kinks out.

“Most leagues don’t start until the end of February,” Borg said. “That’s why it’s important to have a strong fall and make all our mistakes there.

“I’m a little disappointed starting league season so soon but you have to be ready to go.”