Napa Valley College's baseball team is the eldest that head coach Bob Freschi has been in charge of in his five seasons with the Storm. Freschi is carrying 18 sophomores and 12 freshmen this year, but only seven of those freshmen are 2005 high school graduates.

Key returners for Napa Valley are Garrett Smith at shortstop, Jordan Litle at starting right-handed pitcher, Nick Pike in right field, Arthur McHenry at starting right-handed pitcher, Nick Lindsey as catcher, Adam Fonville at first base and Kenny Jones at designated hitter.

"It's a sophomore-laden team," Freschi said. "None of them had special years last season. Just average numbers. If we're going to have any success, we need the sophomores to step up. I'll be leaning on the them. If they can progress and produce, then we'll be successful in conference."

The Storm finished 10-18 in the Bay Valley Conference (13-23 overall) last season for fifth place in the BVC, but lost five starters due to two-year eligibility rules at the community college level -- Nick Toscani, Joe LeMasters, Ed Warren, Ryan Bruns and Brandon Alves.

Freschi expects his team to fair better this season and play more competitively in the BVC.

Currently Smith is injured, so 2005 Vintage High graduate Sean Cunningham will step in for the time being. Crusher teammates Jeff Wright and Kevin Clark will make their debuts with the Storm this season as well. Wright will switch it up between center field and DH while Clark is the only lefty in Napa Valley's bullpen.

Jeff Willis, Dylan Brusstar and Derek Kinder are on this season's roster after graduating from Napa High in 2005. Willis is the only starting left-handed pitcher this season while Brusstar and Kinder are both righties in the bullpen.

Freschi will rotate four pitchers in the starting lineup. Litle and McHenry are the Storm's No. 1 and 2 pitcher -- though not necessarily in that order -- and Willis and Sonoma High graduate Kevin Jackson will round out the rotation. Billy Feliz will be the go-to man in the bullpen while Jason Scheumann will be the primary closer.

"We're going to be competitive," Freshci said. "We have the pitching to get all 27 outs. We just have to bare down and get it. I always stress pitching and defense. It's the main goal. We have the ability to pitch the ball and catch the ball. Our pitching should be solid. I'm going to go to the bullpen quick and give a lot of guys opportunities."

Jonathan Wilson will play left field and hit second, with Wright and Jason Zudell sharing time in center and Pike in right field and batting third. Fonville will hit cleanup and continue at first base while Ross Golding will step into LeMasters' old spot at second base and bat eighth.

Smith and Cunningham will both see time at shortstop and Tomas Donnelly will play third and hit sixth. Lindsey will catch and hit seventh.

Freschi is content with his team thus far and is looking forward to producing better numbers than last season.

"The older guys are going to carry this team," Freschi said. "They don't give me much drama. We'll see if it translates to wins and losses."