Our younger guys that are coming up can swing it a little bit but how are they going to do against Division I and Division 2 pitchers. There is going to be some of that gawk factor as my college coach used to say. It’s like Holy Cow.”

Park head coach David Darr

It’s mostly a whole new ball game this spring for the Park Wolfpack baseball team.

It was a senior-dominated squad last season for the Wolfpack, with 14 seniors on the 20-man varsity. Just four juniors and two sophomores suited up for the Park varsity a year ago.

“There were times last year where we started seven or eight seniors, and consistently seven,” said Park head coach David Darr. “We were very left-handed, hitting-wise, and senior dominated last season.”

That relative inexperience in the lineup this spring may mean the Wolfpack will have some growing pains to start the season.

“I’m not going to be surprised if we struggle the first few weeks,” said Darr. “Because we are going to be inexperienced and kind of young. I do think maybe halfway through the year guys are going to be like ‘okay, I can do this. It’s not a big deal anymore.’ And then I think we’re going to compete and we’re going to have much better at bats and execute and do things like that.”

Returning for the Wolfpack are four seniors, pitcher/shortstop Max Kaplan, catcher/outfielder Theis Nelson, pitcher/third baseman Justin Waterman and outfielder Joseph Chilton. Junior pitcher/infielder/outfielder Dom Nellessen and pitcher/infielder Ryan Roy also return. Kaplan returns with the most varsity experience and his play in the infield will especially be counted on this season.

“Max Kaplan, our shortstop, will pitch as well, but he’s such as good defensive shortstop and vocal leader he helps get guys where they need to be,” said Darr. “He’s going to have to throw for us, but he is that good a defender and a shortstop that it’s almost like we’d rather not ... we’re going to try and see maybe he can be a closer where he has only to throw maybe one inning or two. But maybe not start and throw five or six innings.”

Park pitchers will likely be fairly young this season, with contributions from sophomores like Estan Erickson and Nolan Theis, along with senior Conner Holtan. Roy will likely start as the No. 1 pitcher, with Kaplan and Erickson also seeing a lot of mound time.

“We’ve got about six to eight guys we feel that have a chance to throw for us and that’s kind of what we need,” said Darr. “We feel we’ve kind of identified three or four starters that we could go with and then we have a couple of other guys feel as we ramp up can be successful for one to three innings at a time.”

Park will be more of a defensive team this season than an offensive juggernaut, Darr said.

“Our younger guys that are coming up can swing it a little bit but how are they going to do against Division I and Division 2 pitchers,” Darr asked. “There is going to be some of that gawk factor as my college coach used to say. It’s like Holy Cow.”

Park’s sophomore and freshman classes have some solid baseball players coming up, but varsity baseball in the Suburban East Conference can be a challenge.

East Ridge won the Class 4A title last season with a 3-2 win over conference mate Mounds View. The four finalists last season included three SEC teams: Forest Lake, East Ridge, Mounds View, along with Wayzata.

Darr thinks defending champion East Ridge, along with Stillwater, Woodbury, Cretin-Derham Hall, Forest Lake, White Bear Lake and Roseville will all field excellent teams this season.

“You could probably argue that this is the best baseball conference in the state of Minnesota,” said Darr. “It’s tough. It’s good competition. As a competitor that’s what you want.”

Park went just 7-16 overall last season, and finished 4-14 in the Suburban East Conference, in ninth place. The Wolfpack got off to an agonizingly slow start last spring losing nine straight after a season-opening win over Hastings.

Following that 1-9 start, the Wolfpack basically played .500 ball the rest of the way. Going 6-7 in their last 13 games.

Park was also something of a tough luck team a year ago and lost no less than eight one-run games.

“If we win just two or three of those early in the year that changes the entire complexion of the season,” said Darr. “The best things is that these are all wonderful young men. They want to get better. They enjoy being out here. We’re having a good time, and they are improving every day. They’re doing everything we are asking. They’re asking good questions. They want to improve and that’s just a lot of fun. I can’t ask for anything else.”

The Wolfpack went 1-2 in the Class 4A, Section 3 playoffs, losing 5-4 to Hastings in the opener, winning 7-3 at Burnsville, then losing 7-6 at Two Rivers in the elimination bracket quarterfinal.

Park is scheduled to open the season at Hastings on Friday, April 4. The Wolfpack then host Irondale Wednesday, April 9, stating at 4:30 p.m.