After graduating six seniors - including the entire outfield -Êand having one player not out for the team from last year's 18-11-1 sectional runner-up team, Warsaw baseball coach Will Shepherd said he thinks winning 20 games this season is in the realm of possibilty.

"I think if everything goes right and we play at a high level like we can, this is a 20-win season," said Shepherd, who owns a 69-48-1 record going into his fifth year as the skipper of the Tigers. "We scheduled 28 games. We have to play good baseball, but I think 20 wins this season is makeable."

Warsaw begins its season Saturday at home by hosting Lafayette Jeff in a double-header. The first game starts at noon.

Graduated from last year's team are Pat Riley (center field), Jason Barrette (right field), Don Kennedy (left field), Joe Stanley (third base), Adam Grimm (pitcher) and Jeff Sherman (pitcher/second base). Current senior Jon Leininger decided not to return to the team.

Returning to the starting lineup this year for the Tigers, in search of their first sectional title since Shepherd's first year, are senior catcher Steve Siebenmorgen, senior first baseman Zach Nelson, senior shortstop Jon Walmer and senior hurlers Craig Lankford and Adam Augustine.

Siebenmorgen led Warsaw last year with 21 RBIs and 10 doubles. Nelson added 19 RBIs and seven round-trippers. Lankford also added a big chunk of RBIs a year ago for the Tigers.

"Those three guys will provide the RBIs," said Shepherd. "If they don't, we won't win as much as we can. They will hit in the three, four and five positions to start the year. We hope to get some people on base and drive some in."

What aspect of the game will be Warsaw's strength this year, Shepherd was asked.

"There's not one aspect we dominate in," said Shepherd, "but I think we're good in a lot of areas. We can't let one area fall to a weakness, like giving up walks or committing errors. It looks like on paper we could just show up and be average. But we don't want to be average."

And where the Tigers will finish may hinge upon the pitching staff.

Warsaw's two aces will be Lankford and Augustine, both left-handers. Shepherd said Nelson, Walmer and Michael Barger also will see action on the mound. Shepherd listed Barger as the No. 3 pitcher.

"Those two guys are going to get a lot of work," said Shepherd of his two lefties. "Craig Lankford and Adam Augustine have to produce and have good years for us to have a good year."

Shepherd said his pitching staff will rely on baseball smarts rather than overpowering opposing batters.

"I really believe we have to have good pitching," said Shepherd. "We have to get solid pitching, our strength won't win games. I think we have to pitch smart because we don't have dominating pitchers. It really comes down to playing defense. If our defense improves, we could be a really good team. As a team last year we fielded at a .933 clip. We have to get that better than a .950 as a team to win championships."

Warsaw's last sectional championship came in 1996.

To go with their sectional runner-up status last year, the Tigers also finished tied for second in the Northern Lakes Conference with an 8-4 mark. Plymouth took the conference crown a year ago with an 11-1 record.

"Plymouth is still the team to beat," said Shepherd. "They have everybody back except (Nick) Chaney. Warsaw, Concord and Goshen will be the teams that push them for the title. NorthWood and Northridge have improved. When you look at it on paper, it looks like us and Concord have the best shot at dethroning them."

WARSAW

Coach/years - Will Shepherd/5th

1999 record/postseason results - 18-11-1/lost in sectional championship to Goshen

Key losses - Pat Riley, Jason Barrette, Adam Grim, Joe Stanley, Don Kennedy, Jeff Sherman

Key returners - Steve Siebenmorgen, Zach Nelson, Jon Walmer, Craig Lankford, Adam Augustine

Outlook - The Tigers return six seniors to a team that was a sectional runner-up a year ago. Lefties Lankford and Augustine will lead the pitching staff, while first basemen Nelson and catcher Siebenmorgen bring power to the plate. Siebenmorgen led Warsaw with 21 RBIs ast year. Nelson belted seven homers.

Shepherd - "We need to have some role players, like pinch runners and designated hitters. We've got some spots we need to fill. That bench play is awful important in baseball. We're not blessed with blazing speed, so we'll have to pinch run for some players."

TIPPECANOE VALLEY

Coach/years - Scott Backus/1st

1999 record/postseason results - 7-19/lost first round sectional game

Key losses - R.J. Hutchinson, Seth Mikal

Key returners - B.J. Cunningham, Richie Swanson, Drew Deardorff, Wes Backus, Phil Jackson, Kevin Day, Caleb Shewman

Outlook - Former Viking Scott Backus enters his first season at the helm of the Viking program with four seniors from last year's 7-19 club. A slew of undeclassmen got valuable playing experience last year.

Backus - "I think we have some kids that have played the last couple years and haven't had a lot of success but are ready to try something new with a new coaching staff. Our starting five pitchers are all juniors and sophomores, but they all pitched last year. I hope we're solid there. If the kids keep their heads in it and want it, we can win some games. I think we can play with anybody we step on the field with, but the kids have to show it in practice and work hard."

WAWASEE

Coach/years - John Blunk/7th

1999 record/postseason results - 7-20/lost in sectional first round to Angola

Key losses - Luke Baker, Brent Berkeypile, Tony May, Matt Coy

Key returners - Drew Gradle, Ronnie Black, R.J. Wilson, Brian Milligan, Brian Adkins, Brent Doty

Outlook - Six seniors return to the Wawasee lineup from last year's 7-20 team. John Blunk enters his seventh season at the helm of the Warrior ship with a 71-92-2 record.

Blunk - "What we're trying to do is play basic baseball early on in the season, and hope to have a shot at the NLC and sectional titles."

MANCHESTER

Coach/years - Jack Rupley/2nd

1999 record/postseason results - 17-10, 5-2 TRC/lost to Southwood in sectional first round

Key losses - Shawn Filip

Key returners - Josh Bradley, Dusty Butterbaugh, Brady Burgess, Tom Hardy, Kedric Miller, Marcus Olson, Marc Roth, Kory Rupley, Lee Shafer, Jon Gratz, Klint Rupley

Outlook - After finishing 17-10 overall and second in the Three Rivers Conference with a 5-2 record a year ago, the Squires return nine seniors. The only key loss the Squires had was the graduation of Shawn Filip.

Rupley - "We're looking for a lot of success. The kids are real excited about this year. Let me put it this way, we have the potential to be pretty good. But potential is only a word. The kids have to do it on the field."

TRITON

Coach/years - Jim Shively/7th

1999 record/postseason results - 18-12/lost in sectional championship to South Central

Key losses - Matt Wanamacher, Schuyler Stutzman, Matt Savill

Key returners - Brandon Clouse, Kenny Miller, Ryan Klotz, Jake Burnett, Tyler Hensley, Nate Setser

Outlook - Pitching will be a key for the Trojans, who finished last year as sectional runner-up to South Central. Brandon Clouse finished the year with a 7-1 record on the mound. In six years with the Trojans, Jim Shively owns a 93-73 coaching record.

Shively - "Pitching will definately be our strength. Clouse was 7-1 last year and was Class A All-State honorable mention. Hensley was 3-1 as a sophomore. Kenny Miller is also a good pitcher."

NORTHWOOD

Coach/years - Doug Gerber/7th

1999 record/postseason results - 7-18/lost to Lakeland in sectional first-round game

Key losses - Andy Yoder, Todd McDonald, Mark Piris, Ryan Mattern

Key returners - Nate Brown, Brock Doty, Matt Sitek, Jamie Hill, Jessie Hoover, Josh Snyder.

Outlook - NorthWood's success will rely on the play of five seniors and one junior who return return from last year's 7-18 club that fell to Lakeland in the first round of the sectional a year ago.

Gerber - "Our strength will be the work ethic our kids have and have already shown. We're going to be strong on the mound with Brown and Hoover. We're counting on them to give us some good work. Hitting-wise, we have to stay within ourselves and put it in play."

WHITKO

Coach/years - John Strayer/2nd

1999 record/postseason results - 1-20/lost in first round of sectionals

Key losses - Jeff Martin

Key returners - James Miller, Jimmy Baumgartner, Brandon Waller, Ben Ryan, Jason Ewell, Anthony Clausen

Outlook - After winning one game last year, the Wildcats look to improve this year. And that success hinges on the play of four seniors and two juniors. Whitko graduated one player from last year's 1-20 team.

Strayer - "I think our defense is pretty solid, except we're weak in pitching. Our infield is solid. I'm concerned the most with our pitching but we return three guys with experience." [[In-content Ad]]