After a one-win 2009 season, the Ballard High School softball team has opened the 2010 season with two straight dominating performances in nonconference play.

The Beavers blew out Ingraham March 15 to open the season and followed it with a 12-1 dismantling of Lakeside.

Coach Kyle Gray said the team is really buying into changing last year's losing culture into a winning culture this season.

Ballard is getting excellent leadership out of captains Bernie Cardon, Karissa Marshall and Sophie Overlock-Pauley, Gray said. And, the freshmen players have made a big impact, he said.

Against Lakeside, freshman Andrea Jewett pitched a full five innings, striking out nine batters while giving up three hits and three walks.

Marshall went one-for-one with three runs scored and an RBI.

Kimmerly Amry went one-for-two with three runs scored and an RBI on a triple.

Ballard scored 12 runs on six hits and showed solid defense with only one error.

The Beavers have two more nonconference games, starting with Sammamish at 3:30 p.m. on March 24 at Lower Woodland, before KingCo play begins April 5 against Roosevelt.

Gray said the team needs to stay focused and can't be satisfied with a few nonconference wins with tough KingCo competition looming on the horizon.

"We have to keep getting better everyday," he said.