Leadership on a team of 24 can be a heavy burden to carry through a four-month season.

So the strength of the University of Hawaii softball team’s senior class may indeed be in its numbers.

The Rainbow Wahine held their first official practice of the 2012 season Monday morning, led by seven seniors who will be integral in setting the pace for this year’s club.

"It’s helpful that there’s a lot of us," said Stephanie Ricketts, back for her fourth season heading the Wahine pitching staff. "We know this year it’s not just on one or two of us, it’s on all seven of us because we’ve all been here and I think we’re all on the same page.

"Since there’s seven of us we can pretty much relay the same message to everyone."

That message began to take form in August when all seven — Ricketts, Alex Aguirre, Dara Pagaduan, Sarah Robinson, Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, Shannon Lum and Rachel Paragas — assembled for a meeting to make sure they were united in their vision for the season.

Their leadership style and the personality of this year’s team will continue to evolve throughout a schedule that opens Feb. 9 against Seattle and the Wahine hope will extend into the NCAA postseason in May.

"I want them to be proactive to have a chemistry that everyone looks up to them, that they’re all focused on the same goals," UH head coach Bob Coolen said.

Chemistry was among Coolen’s top talking points during UH’s run to the Women’s College World Series two seasons ago, and the current juniors and seniors who remain from that team hope to carry some of that experience into this spring.

"We’re what’s left, so we are trying to perpetuate that striving to get back there to the underclassmen," left fielder Aguirre said.

"As much as we can try to explain to them what it feels like, you don’t know until you get there — we can’t mimic that for them here. We’re just trying to tell them, ‘It’s worth it, just trust us. Work with us and set this goal with us.’ I think the underclassmen are really buying into that and I think it’s helping us come together as a team."

Along with building team unity, establishing a starting lineup is among Coolen’s top priorities in the practices leading into the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic.

Aguirre and junior center fielder Kelly Majam return as starters in the outfield, while sophomore Sharla Kliebenstein, who started all 55 games at catcher last year, will split time in right field and behind the plate.

Jessica Iwata returns at shortstop, but second and third base remain in flux. Pagaduan and Robinson are among the candidates at third, with Pagaduan also in the mix at second. Freshman Kayla Wartner is likely to contribute right away at catcher and first base after a productive fall season.

"I always tell my players, ‘I’ll treat you fairly, but fair doesn’t mean even,’ " Coolen said. "They’ll be given every opportunity in a fair way … and it’s something I reiterate to my players all the time, that it doesn’t mean equal reps. Right now we’re solidifying; that’s our biggest challenge right now, getting the starting lineup jelling."

Majam feeling stronger

Majam, who was dealing with the effects of cancer treatment last year, said she underwent a body scan and an ultrasound during the Christmas break after having "a little bit of a scare."

"But everything is good and I’m healthy and no cancer cells in me, so that’s good, praise the Lord," she said.

After having her thyroid removed in the summer of 2010, Majam said she’s better at managing her energy with a year of experience.

"I feel much better coming into the season as opposed to last year," said Majam, who hit .290 while starting every game in 2011. "Last year was difficult as in fatigue and learning to take care of myself. So it’s definitely helped having the offseason to get back into it and really feel comfortable with my body again and I do feel a lot more healthy."