After finishing the 2005 campaign winless and in the basement of the Minnesota Community College Conference South, the Minnesota West Bluejays baseball team has nowhere to go but up.
It is with that attitude that eighth-year head coach Brian Iverson is quickly getting his roster solidified and his players prepared to challenge for conference title.
"We were in a good percentage of the games last season," Iverson said. We had a lot of good athletes, but couldn't get over the hump. We lost a lot of one and two run games. We had leads in games -- whatever reason, we couldn't hang on to win any."
The Bluejays have three key returning players from last season in Josh Feller, Rhett Cummings and Luke Anderson. All three men pitch well and are adept on defense behind the hurlers. Feller, out of Worthington High School, is a defensively quick player at shortstop, while Cummings (Windom) and Anderson (Belgrade, Mont.) are sound at center field and catcher, respectively.
With several talented freshmen joining the program, the Bluejays should field a team that will keep opponents wishing they had taken West more seriously.
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"I think there are some teams that might overlook us early on," Iverson said. "But we have a good group of freshmen coming in. We have a few players from Worthington, a couple of guys from the Red Rock (Central) program and some players from Heron Lake and New Ulm Cathedral."
Jay Scheidt, who had great success as quarterback for the Bluejays earlier this year, is one of the Worthington players expected to add some defense (shortstop) to the West lineup. Justin Saufley (third base), Brad Nankivil (first base) and Justin Holinka (pitcher) also join the program from WHS.
Tyler Reiner (third base/pitcher), Dusty Sykora (second base/pitcher), Isadore Altermatt (second base/pitcher) and Brandon Clarke (outfield/pitcher) come to West from the Falcons' program.
Lucas Knutson from Southwest Star Concept brings his versatile infield experience to West at second base and catcher, while Scott Kinsley out of New Ulm Cathedral is expected to make an impact at shortstop and second base.
"With our returning player and a strong group of freshmen, we're looking for some good things out of this team," Iverson said. "It usually doesn't take a lot to turn a team around."
Iverson sees the turnaround coming not so much from the offense or the defense, but rather putting the two together.
"We need to have a strong defensive game when our pitching is on," he said. "When it's not on, we need to have a better offensive output -- put together a balanced game."
If West can find the chemistry, there is no reason that the Bluejays couldn't find themselves back in the state tournament. Ridgewater and Fergus Falls will again be tough opposition, but the MCCC South sends the top three teams to the tournament. A couple of early victories and the Bluejays will looking toward the future, rather than be haunted by the past.
