The expectation for the 2015 Nansemond River High School softball team is high and simple.

“State championship,” Lady Warriors coach Gabe Rogers said.

It’s a prospect that makes sense given the team’s progress under Rogers.

After Nansemond River went 4-16 in 2012, he took over and helped the squad go 16-6 in 2013, placing third in the Southeastern District. Last season, the Lady Warriors went 22-3, were regular-season conference champions, won the Region 4A South championship and advanced as far as the Group 4A state semifinals.

“Now, the objective is obviously to get a step past that,” Rogers said, which leaves only the options of state champion or state runner-up. “Obviously, if I had to pick between the two, I’d prefer to be the state champion.”

Nansemond River lost only two players from its 2014 team as Maddy-Grace Lavender and Jessie Rogers graduated.

This year’s squad features a handful of underclassmen, three seniors and eight juniors.

Coach Rogers said his players make up a very talented group, and “they’re all going to have opportunities to stand out.”

He highlighted junior Maddie McGrath, who will likely be playing in the infield again.

“She’s one kid that I really expect to make a big difference between last year’s play and this year’s play,” he said.

Rogers said he was not disappointed with her play last year but noted she experienced some tough breaks at bat. She swung the bat well, but often hit right to people, so her batting average did not reflect how well she was performing.

Expectations will likely be particularly high for senior center fielder Morgan Lowers and junior shortstop/second baseman KateLynn Hodgkiss this year after both garnered first team all-state honors last season.

Junior Jaclyn Mounie, the 2014 Ironclad Conference softball Player of the Year, will be back.

“Her and KateLynn will be manning the middle,” Rogers said. “If one is playing short, then the other will be playing second.”

Junior Calah Savage will return behind the plate, and junior Lauren Maddrey will again be the Lady Warriors’ starting pitcher.

During Maddrey’s offseason training, “she’s been able to work on some other pitches,” Rogers said.

She had a minor, nagging wrist injury last season that caused her some pain when she threw certain kinds of pitches. Consequently, her coaches avoided those types of throws, but she is 100 percent healthy now.

“This year, we can focus on them,” Rogers said.

Katelyn Biando starred on the team last year as a freshman, but her return will not come until three or four weeks into the 2015 season, as she will be recovering from a pre-season surgery.

Rogers foresees her getting back into the lineup.

“We played her all over the field last year,” he said. “She’ll probably be doing the same thing — outfield, infield, catcher.”

Though the 2014 Lady Warriors were strong, Rogers said, “We’re a little deeper this year.”

He expects NR to benefit from sophomore Madison Rhoads, who will serve as the No. 2 pitcher. Sophomore Kelly Lafferty, who did not play much last year, has gotten stronger and faster and should compete for different starting opportunities.

Greater depth means Rogers will have more combinations to use in the batting lineup.

The coach, whose entire staff has returned, made it clear his team’s biggest obstacle this year will be itself.

“We’ve got to make sure that we don’t display any parts of complacency, any lack of focus,” he said.

Nansemond River begins the season on Tuesday, visiting Grassfield High School.