Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Austin Michel

By Ray Hamill — The Wildcats won’t feature a lot of experience on their roster this spring, but they appear to be embracing the challenge of a new season.

If, that is, they can actually get out and play some games.

Head coach Justin Andersen’s team has already had two games canceled and may have to wait another two weeks for their season opener if a scheduled showdown at Del Norte this weekend is called off because of the weather.

“It’s been slow but good,” Andersen said of the early season. “I’ve got a good group of kids that are super eager, just super young.”

There are no seniors on this year’s team, but a young roster is loaded with “baseball first” players and that could make them a dangerous prospect when they open the Little 4 later this month.

“I like their eagerness to learn the game of baseball,” Andersen said. “It’s a baseball first group and I feel like they’re constantly asking questions and are super attentive.”

Andersen will rely on a core group of talented juniors to lead the way, including Levi Dixon, Austin Michel and Trent Titus, each of whom saw significant playing time last spring.

Sophomores Parker Prior, Jonah Anderson and Jarett Smith are also back after seeing a lot of playing time in 2022 and eager to take the next step.

“I think based on what I’ve seen it’s going to be a bunch of hard-working kids,” the head coach said. “And as long as they embrace the grind of baseball, then we’ll have good things happen for us this year.”

So far so good for this group, although they have been limited in practice through the early going due to the basketball team’s playoff run and the wet weather.

The Cats’ scheduled season opener against Clear Lake was canceled this past weekend, as was a Tuesday showdown against Laytonville.

Andersen and his players will be hoping to finally take the field at Del Norte on Saturday, weather permitting.

With a school trip scheduled for next week, the next game for the Wildcats after that will be on March 22 at Willits.

The good news for the Cats, however, is that there appears to be plenty of competition for places, especially behind the plate with four worthy candidates to start at catcher.

The Cats also have some options on the mound.

Michel will be looking to pick up this spring just where he left off last year after some big performances for the team, while Prior, Anderson, Jarett, Dixon and Titus are also likely to see plenty of time on the mound.

“We’re hoping they all come back a little more developed this year,” the head coach said.

Andersen also likes the incoming freshmen class, including pitchers Prescott Langer and Tanner Pidgeon, each of whom has some experience on the mound.

“We’ve got a good freshmen class and they’re working their butts off,” the head coach added.

Last season, the Cats finished 9-11 overall and 7-5 in the Little 4, finishing second to St. Bernard’s.