Michael DeBord, a returning starter at catcher, will be counted on significantly both with his bat and behind the plate.

The College of Wooster baseball program's remarkable streak of 17-straight seasons of 30 wins or more came to an end when a very youthful team as well as a series of rainouts resulted in last spring's 22-17 mark, but now the more experienced Fighting Scots look to start a new such streak in 2012.

"The last few years we've lost some really quality seniors, and you want the new guys to step right in and play at that level, but that isn't always the case," explained Tim Pettorini, who enters his 31st year at Wooster needing 25 victories to join a small group of head coaches in NCAA Div. III history to reach 1,000 wins, currently sporting a 975-358-6 career record (.730).

"(We) played like young guys, made mistakes. Bad defense is really hard to overcome … that was a nightmare (last year), and there weren't a lot of options we could use," he continued, referring to the teams' .939 fielding percentage. "Hopefully this year, we're going to be better with another year under our belt, and I think we have a few more options."

After typically trotting out a lineup with three freshmen starting position players a season ago, Pettorini welcomes back six starters in all, although some of them are in a battle to win back their spots due to increased depth. Sophomore Zac Mathie, the 2011 North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year, will likely set the pace for the offense, as the powerful left-handed hitter looks to build on his .346 average, 12 doubles, five home runs, and 42 RBI. Defensively, he's moving from left to right field.

The other anticipated starters, with notable experience in a Wooster uniform, appear to be seniors Michael DeBord and Zack Vesco, junior Johnathan Ray, and sophomores Craig Day and Eddie Reese. Vesco, a two-time all-NCAC selection who has batted .358 over his career, will start for the fourth year either at third base or designated hitter. DeBord has started 80 games the previous three seasons while hitting .346, but his greatest impact will be felt behind the plate, as his defensive skills at catcher led to honorable mention on the All-NCAC Team last spring.

Pettorini sees the potential for a breakout year in Ray, the squad's likely left fielder who batted .233 and tied for third on the team in homers (3) in his first year as a starter. Day, picked second-team all-NCAC as the primary second baseman last season, may move to third base or DH, but either way, his bat will be in the lineup after posting a .320 average with five home runs, three against rival Wittenberg University. Reese came on strong at the end of 2011, going 9-for-22 (.409) his last eight games for a .311 season average, and now will start 2012 at shortstop.

Day or Reese could wind up at second base, where sophomores Matt Felvey and Bryan Miller are also in contention for the starting job. Felvey gained experience over 23 appearances, while Miller was at Div. II Ashland University as a freshman, primarily serving as a pinch runner during 10 games.

The Scots have a returning starter at first base in Billy Farrow, however, he has been limited by a back injury since last spring when he hit .273 with 18 RBI, and fellow sophomore Cal Thomay was the "best player during the fall," according to Pettorini. Thomay entered just twice as a first-year.

Similarly, sophomore Jarrod Mancine, who saw limited time (seven games) after enduring arm surgery following his high school career, could take over in centerfield.

With a number of other players competing for action, Pettorini likes the depth of this squad. Junior Ryan Miner has been on the field in 44 games his first two seasons, often as a pinch runner (11 steals), and will get a strong look in the outfield again, as will sophomores Zach Jergan, who started 12 times, and Shane Gallagher. Backing up DeBord will be sophomores Jon Rothman and Zach Stein, and possibly Miller.

Once they gain some experience, freshmen John McLain and Frank Vance have the potential to be leading contributors, McLain at shortstop and Vance at the corner infield spots, while other first-year position players will likely be in developmental roles this spring.

While it sounds like there will be a number of new faces in key spots, Pettorini is optimistic that Wooster will be able to pile up the runs. "I think our offensive numbers are going to be very, very good. We can put a lineup out there … 1-9 is going to be pretty darn good."

The pitching staff will have a much different look, forced to replace its top-two starters and closer due to graduation. Keenan White will step in as the ace, if he's healthy. The 6-4, 210-pound junior southpaw appears to have the tools to be a top-tier starter, coming off a 3-3 record, 2.96 ERA, and 36 strikeouts over 48.2 innings as the team's No. 3 last spring, however, a current injury is limiting him.

Another imposing figure, 6-7, 230-pound senior Josh Stidham, is expected to hold down one of the frontline positions as well. Stidham has exhibited strong potential during 62.1 career innings, going 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA and 44 strikeouts, and now "it's his time," according to Pettorini.

There are a host of others who are still sorting out their roles. Senior Kyle Cunningham-Rhoads possesses the next-most experience (25.0 career innings) and is coming off a 0.89 ERA in 20.1 innings in 2011, while sophomores Steve Hagen, Kyle Koski, Zach Klein, and Zach Washinski will all likely see increased duty.

Hagen totaled 22.1 innings, factoring in seven decisions (4-3) and posing a 6.04 ERA. Koski, who struck out 10 in 11.1 innings, will now put his focus into pitching after also playing in the field as a rookie. Pettorini views Klein as a possible closer after 13.0 innings of work a year ago. Washinski went 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched.

Also expected to earn time are senior Colin Meinzer, sophomores Zac Sessa, Doug Chapman, Brett DeWester, and Jon Huisel, and possibly Jergan, and freshman Anthony Ciocca. Sessa and Ciocca are left-handers, adding to their value.

"Pitching is what we're really trying to focus on and look to improve. There are lots of opportunities for guys who weren't in major roles," Pettorini summed up. "We've got some guys that we're excited about … (they're) no longer freshmen. They're sophomores and should take significant steps."

In front of this relatively inexperienced team is a typically challenging schedule, including games against defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Marietta College, Rowan University, which is just outside the top-25, and Montclair State University, Rhodes College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Bethel (Minn.) University, SUNY Oneonta, and Western Connecticut State University, all coming off winning seasons. And, that's just on the spring break trip.

Shortly after returning from Florida, North Coast Athletic Conference play begins, and the league has voted to return to the two-division format after playing a round-robin schedule during 2011. That means the Scots, who won 10-straight NCAC East Division titles (2001-10), will play four-game series against Allegheny College, Hiram College, Kenyon College, and Oberlin College again, with the top-two in the division advancing to the NCAC Tournament May 3-5.

The NCAC champion, which Wooster has been a league-record 13 times, earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Div. III Baseball Championships.