By Glenn Sattell
Chronicle correspondent

Over the last five seasons The Woodlands softball team has averaged 26 wins and the 2010 version just may be the best yet.

The Lady Highlanders have compiled a 130-42 record over the last five seasons, including a record-setting 29 wins in 2006. But this year’s team is as hot as any, winning 18 of its first 19 games and, entering last week’s action, is ranked No. 3 in Class 5A.

The reigning district champions, and region quarterfinalists, are at it again in 2010 under coach Richard Jorgensen.

“We’re very young,” Jorgensen said. “We’re starting five sophomores, including a pitcher.”

But it’s not just any ordinary pitcher. Paige McDuffee is a move-in this season from Dallas Mansfield, where she was the district MVP as a freshman. McDuffee has already verbally committed to LSU.

In her first five starts this season, McDuffee threw a one-hitter and four two-hitters, including an impressive 2-0 shutout of Montgomery, which was ranked No. 2 in Class 4A.

McDuffee recorded 13 strikeouts and both Lizzi Arana and Faith Bohack drove in runs.

McDuffee had 17 strikeouts in a 7-0 shutout of A&M Consolidated at the Westlake Tournament. She ran her record to 14-0 entering last week’s action, striking out 125 batters while not allowing an earned run in 61 1/3 innings. During that span she issued just 14 walks.

In addition, McDuffee hit .576 with two homers and 14 RBI in 33 official at-bats.

She is a big reason why the Lady Highlanders won the Westlake and the Austin ISD Tournaments this season.

“We played well at the Westlake Tournament,” Jorgensen said. “All the teams in there were really good. They all went to at least the quarterfinals last year.”

The Woodlands swept four games from that tournament, including a 3-2 win over Vista Ridge, who reached the state tournament last season. The win also avenged last year’s region quarterfinals loss.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Jorgensen said. “We’ve got a long way to go but the expectations are really high because we do have a lot of talent on the team.”

The Lady Highlanders lost five first team all-district players from last year’s squad but return senior second baseman Lizzi Arana, a 2008 All-State selection and 2010 Preseason All-Greater Houston. She has committed to Stephen F. Austin.

“Lizzi was our leader last year as a junior, offensively and defensively,” Jorgensen said.

Arana hit three homers in the first five games of the 2010 season, and entered last week’s games hitting .488 with a team-high four homers and 18 RBI in 41 official plate appearances.

Sophomore shortstop Faith Bohack (.316), the team’s lead-off hitter, also returns, along with all-district selection Kelsey Jolly (center field).

Bohack is one of seven players hitting above .300 with 20 or more official trips to the plate. Kristen Clark and Alyssa Jorgensen both hit .435, while Cortney Wilganowski (.379) and Jessica Snyder (.316) round out the group. Kayla Prater (.297) looks to join them as the District 14-5A season continues.

Clark is not just doing it at the plate, she has also won four of her first five decisions in the circle, compiling a 0.75 ERA over 28 innings.

Jorgensen said he looks for tough challenges ahead in district play.

“Oak Ridge lost some players, like we did,” he noted. “But they have some key players coming back.

“Conroe and New Caney both have their entire starting lineups returning this year. So they should be tough.”