Last May, the Douglas High baseball team watched as Galena stormed the Tigers' home field in celebration after winning the Northern 4A Regional championship 8-5.
It was an abrupt end to a remarkable season for the senior-laden Tigers, during which Douglas claimed its second league title in three years and advanced to the regional title game for the first time in coach John Glover's six-year tenure.
In the 10 months since, seemingly everything has changed.
Douglas said good-bye to nine seniors, brought up a host of young talent and " just for good measure " overhauled the entire backstop side of Tiger Field, installing major-league netting, a brick base, new bleachers behind home plate and a new bi-level press box.
What remains, however, is the expectation to return to last season's form.
"We have a good group this year," said senior and three-year veteran Jordan Hadlock. "We have a title to defend and our goal is to get back there.
"It'll be tough. Sierra League is solid. We'll just have to come to play every time we take the field."
The first month may be spent just trying to acclimate the young roster to the Northern 4A varsity baseball. Douglas will bring in just three seniors to go with 10 juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.
Offensively, the Tigers will be replacing seven of their top 10 run producers and five of their top six home run hitters.
"It's definitely a rebuilding year," Glover said. "We just lost so much run production from last year.
"We'll have to try to manufacture some runs and play a little small-ball this year."
Hadlock, who signed with Division I Cal Poly during the fall, figures to be a key part of the rebuilding process.
He was Douglas' lead-off man last season, leading the league in triples (5) while hitting six home runs and driving in 24 runs.
He was selected as the league's top catcher and also served as Douglas' closer, recording two saves, 19 strikeouts and a 2-0 record in 11 relief appearances.
"Jordan was big for us, there's no question," Glover said. "We'll be counting on him a lot this year."
Hadlock, who also started at second base and shortstop over the last three years for Douglas, said he'll be looking to help the incoming underclassmen make the adjustment to varsity ball.
"It's different," he said. "I remember what it was like trying to make adjustments to the high school game. I just want to try to help the young guys make the transition."
While Hadlock will likely be the primary starter behind the plate, junior Beau Davis and senior Kyle Flagg will also put in time at catcher.
Whoever is behind the plate will be handling the most-experienced pitching staff Glover has had since coming to Douglas.
"The majority of the staff is back," Glover said. "We won't be rebuilding there. Most of our main starters are back, and that is huge."
Junior Tyler May is entering his third season on the Tiger roster and is expected to be the anchor of the staff.
Last year, he went 6-1 with 31 strikeouts.
"He is more like a senior now because it'll be his third year as a starting pitcher," Glover said.
Junior Wyatt Graham, a big lefty who made a big impression last year, comes in having led the team in strikeouts (39) last season while going 6-4.
Another lefty, junior Tyler Hoelzen, is expected to see a lot of time this year. He got the start against Galena during last year's regional title game and held the Grizzlies at bay for the better part of five innings.
Outside of those three, junior Timmy Rudnick is expected to see some time on the mound as is freshman Kameron VanWinkle.
Junior Troy Torres is the team's top returning middle reliever, having gone 2-0 with five strikeouts last season.
"Right now, we're seven or eight deep as far as guys who we can put out there," Glover said.
Hadlock also said he's looking forward to working with this staff.
"We've got a lot of depth on the mound," he said. "I've had a chance to catch these guys for a while and we're familiar with each other. I think that will be a strength for us."
Outside of the mound and the plate, however, the rest of the field is generally wide open.
Rudnick will be the team's only returning starter in the infield after playing shortstop for the Tigers last year.
First base will be a battle between Graham, Flagg, sophomore Michael Whalin and junior Brett Hartley.
Second base will go to a newcomer, either Jeff Crozier or Kyle Fencl " both juniors " and third will be Torres or VanWinkle.
Freshman Shane Fencl, Kyle's brother, is expected to see time at short as well.
"It'll be about who is hitting the baseball," Glover said. "We have a lot of options out there. It's a different level for these younger guys, so there will be some period of adjustment for them."
Aside from the logjam around the horn, Glover said he's also bringing in a "herd" of outfielders.
May and Davis platooned in right field last year and should be considered the top candidates for starting spots this season while Hoelzen, Whalin, junior Tanner Thomas, junior Zach McFadden, senior Ryan Quenga and sophomore Ryan Moglich will be in the mix as well.
"There are a number of guys capable of playing out there, but again it'll come down to who is producing runs," Glover said.
Douglas has Reed and Damonte Ranch, both regional playoff qualifiers, on its slate this weekend for the Mike Bearman Memorial Tournament. The Tigers head down to Las Vegas next week for a three-game series and return the following Tuesday to launch right into league play by hosting Wooster.
"We'll get right into it," Glover said. "The league looks really tough, just like it always does.
"It'll be another dog fight. Last year it came right down to the last day and even then, we had to get help from Carson to clinch the title. It'll be another very competitive year all the way around."
Douglas opens up Thursday at Reed with a noon start, and then will take on Santa Clara at Reed at 3 p.m. the same afternoon.
