The nameplates posted on the magnetic board on Bob Coolen’s office wall suggest a new look for the University of Hawaii softball program next year.

The updated board includes 12 newcomers slated to join the program — five high school players who signed letters of intent in the fall joined by others still finalizing the process of enrolling at UH as transfers or walk-ons. The influx could even grow by a couple over the summer and the annual transfer shuffle.

While newcomers could make up close to half the 2016 roster, the foundation remains the returnees to a Rainbow Wahine roster coming off a 32-22 season and a third-place finish in the Big West.

"The senior and junior classes have to be the ones that take this whole team and put it on its shoulders," Coolen said. "Those two classes need to take all the young kids next year and show them the way."

As is so often the case in college softball, Coolen pointed to the middle of the diamond as the focal point for the Rainbow Wahine to build on the program’s 10th season with 30-plus wins in the past 11 years.

"It’s all going to revolve around the mound," Coolen said." We’re going to have hitters, we’re going to have players. It’s all going to revolve around how well we develop our mound presence to win those tight ballgames we lost to the Oklahomas, the Washingtons, the UCFs, the UCLAs."

After struggling in the circle in a 22-28 season in 2014, the Wahine dropped their team earned-run average by more than two runs this spring and the staff looks to return intact.

Freshman Brittany Hitchcock went 18-7 with a 2.37 ERA in her return from a redshirt season to earn second-team All-Big West and third-team NFCA All-West Region honors.

"Brittany just wants to get better," Coolen said. "She finally got a taste of what it was all about and she did everything I thought she would do."

Sophomore Kanani Aina Cabrales (13-15, 2.82) alternated starts with Hitchcock and was dominant at times while leading the Wahine with 95 strikeouts.

With the return of Heather Morales — who made nine relief appearances as a sophomore — and the additions of signees Jennifer Iseri, a left-hander, and Naomi Monahan, Coolen figures to have far more options next spring in crafting a rotation. The depth could also allow Aina Cabrales to see more at-bats after making 14 plate appearances, and hitting one home run, this season.

Morales led UH in hitting .331 and had seven home runs for a UH lineup that led the Big West with 56.

Along with Iseri ("a contact lefty who hits for power," Coolen said), the incoming class includes 2014 All-State position player of the year Nicole Lopez from Mid-Pacific.

"Nicole brings that element of a natural ability to hit the ball and I’m hoping that doesn’t change, Coolen said.

Lopez will rejoin former MPI teammate Keiki Carlos with the Wahine. Carlos hit .293 with eight homers while spending most of the Big West campaign in the leadoff spot and will be part of a UH senior class looking to roll the final lesson of this season into the next.

Playing with a relaxed demeanor, the Wahine closed the year with a sweep of UC Davis, hitting 10 home runs in three games while outscoring the Aggies 30-7.

"It’s definitely promising going into next year; it’s always good to leave any season on a high note," Carlos said. "Hopefully we play that loose next season and have fun."

The finale against UC Davis marked the farewells of four-year mainstays in Leisha Li‘ili‘i and Kayla Wartner and Jordan Burton, a role player most of her career who sparked the Wahine in a 5-1 finish to the season.

The senior class represented UH’s left-handed presence in the order, with Li‘ili‘i ending her career third in program history with 49 home runs and a second-straight first-team All-Big West selection. Wartner ended the year tied for eighth with 34 career homers.