Some players have wandered the sidelines for so long, one could swear they had been there since the program started.

In Lauren Anderson’s case, it is true.

Warren Central’s most dominating fast-pitch softball pitcher took the mound for the first game in Lady Vikes’ fast-pitch history six years ago. On Saturday, she’ll take the mound for the last season-opener of her WC career.

“It makes me feel old,” Anderson said. “When I started I was just really shy and came out here and did what I was supposed to do.

“There was a lot of pressure because I was only in the seventh grade.”

Anderson’s first season was filled with ups and downs. The team went 8-10, but were in a division with perennial state powers Clinton and Madison Central. Those two programs had established fast-pitch traditions, while fast-pitch in Warren County was in its infancy.

Until then, the schools offered slow-pitch only and the summer leagues had yet to be developed as fully as now.

Anderson, though, had been working as a pitcher for some time with her father and coach Lucy Young said that made some of the transition easier.

“We were real fortunate that we had someone with her pitching background to come into the program,” Young said. “Although she was young by age, her maturity on the mound and knowledge of the fast-pitch game was a tremendous asset.”

During the first few seasons, Anderson was the only legitimate Lady Vikes’ starter. She pitched almost every game.

Her fluid underhand motion, blazing speed and pin-point control made her one of the top pitchers around.

“My dad got all the information off the internet and took me to several pitching coaches,” said Anderson, who is joined each game by both her dad, who watches from behind the screen, and her mom, who keeps the scorebook for the team.

Anderson’s game was aided by then-catcher Katie Barnett, who also had a fast-pitch background.

After Barnett graduated two years ago, Anderson was aided again by the emergence of pitcher Brittany Fuller.

“Brittany and I help each other a lot,” said Anderson, who plays first base when Fuller pitches.

Those two will certainly have to carry a Lady Vikes team that has only five seniors and two juniors. Three of those seniors – Cookie Johnson, Saleda Montgomery and Kristen Linson – are still playing basketball and will not start playing softball until the hoops playoffs are completed.

Young said she will likely start two eighth-graders, three freshmen and a pair of juniors during the opening weekend.

“It’s probably as young as we have been since the program started,” Young said. “We had a real big group of freshmen that first year.”

Mandy Fuller, one of three Fuller sisters on the team, will start at catcher, while sister Tiffany is scheduled to play centerfield and Brittany will start in left.

Young said freshman Bridget Dillon should start at first base, while eighth-grader Andi Hearn will play second and freshman Shawn Johnson will play shortstop. Junior Anna Miller is penciled it at third base and Young said several players will platoon in right field.

“Even with the addition of Cookie, we will still have a lot of young players in the field,” Young said.

Except on the pitcher’s mound. Not many schools can boast six-year starters, and even fewer can say that starter came in on day one.

“Being on the first team is a real special feeling,” Anderson said. “There are a lot of people who can’t say they had that opportunity. I can always say I was one of the first people to ever experience that. It’s really special.”