Warrior coach Ed Cheff, entering his 24th season at LCSC, believes his ballclub will display some of the same characteristics -- maturity, work ethic and a desire to improve -- that have earmarked his better teams. The Warriors are a veteran, senior-dominated team position-wise while the pitching staff is basically new and untested.

Two major changes took place on the coaching staff: Associate head coach Chad Miltenberger was named the head coach at Walla Walla Community College, and pitching coach Tyler Cheff left for Mililani, Hawaii, where he will teach high school biology and coach baseball. Tyler played collegiately at the University of Hawaii. Miltenberger, often labeled by Ed Cheff as the best player he ever coached, spent 15 years as a vital part of the coaching staff.

Tyler’s pitching staff established record low, sub 2.00 ERAs in both the 1996 and 1999 NAIA World Series. Not coincidentally, the Warriors won national titles both of those years.

"Losing Chad and Tyler is going to be tough. They were outstanding coaches and great guys to work with," Cheff said.

Former Warrior Denny Barrett was hired out of Glendale Community College (Calif.) to take over many of Miltenberger’s duties. Barrett’s teams at Glendale won conference titles two of three years he was at the helm.

Four student assistants -- Andy Alldredge, Clint Cameron, Toby Cheff and Kevin Clouser -- will assist with various coaching responsibilities.

OUTFIELD

A projected all-senior outfield led by Jason Ellison (Port Orchard, Wash.), the 1999 NAIA World Series Most Valuable Player, in centerfield, University of Washington transfer Kyle Woods (Marysville, Wash.) in left and returnee Ray Vodegel (Lake Stevens, Wash.) in right could be pushed by the likes of freshman standout John Dusan (Bend, Ore.) and junior-college transfers Travis Starr (Bend, Ore., Lane CC) and Ben Johnston (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, College of Southern Idaho). Johnston could also see a lot of time in the designated hitter spot. Transfer Matt Hellman (Burbank, Calif., Glendale CC) should also challenge for playing time in the outfield along with transfer Chris Tavares (Lake Stevens, Wash., Edmonds CC), who was one of the NWAACC’s top outfielders in 1998 and 1999. The talent and depth in the outfield is as good as Cheff has seen at LCSC. "I’m not sure if there are many collegiate outfields better than this group," Cheff said.

INFIELD

Shorstop Elliott Strankman (Richland, Wash.), a four-year starter, and junior second baseman Kurt Koshelnik (Everett, Wash.) give the Warriors a quality keystone combo. Senior Chad Kline (Yakima, Wash.) will start at third base. Last season, Kline filled in for an injured Strankman at shortstop throughout the post-season and was a big reason LCSC won the national title. Aaron Matsui (Kahului, Hawaii) is a good-hitting infielder and redshirt infielder Yoshi Kimura (Saga, Japan) displays impressive skills, as well.

Transfer Trevor Brown (Eugene, Ore., Lane CC), an All-NWAACC catcher at Lane, looks to be the starter at first base.

Returning first baseman Tom Fazio (Lapwai, Idaho) was hampered by injuries his freshman season and if healthy could challenge Brown. Ryan Smith (Lewiston, Idaho) is also a candidate to play first base.

Junior Brandon O’Leary (Portland, Ore.) started at third base as freshman but saw his playing time diminish due to injuries last season. He is a quality left-handed hitter Cheff would like to see in the lineup every day. He’s currently trying to come back from a stress fracture in his lower tibia -- an injury he sustained last fall. Junior Eli Albertson (Burbank, Calif.) will see considerable playing time at second and third. He was slated to be the ballclub’s right-handed hitting DH last season prior to a season-ending injury to his wrist. Redshirt infielder Sennett Pierce (Lewiston, Idaho) will also challenge for playing time.

CATCHERS

Seniors Gil Pierce (Moscow, Idaho) and J.R. Diaz (Merced, Calif.) will battle with sophomore Gabe Boruff (Ephrata, Wash.) for the starting job. Boruff was close to earning a starter’s role last year before a knee injury limited his catching skills. Pierce ended up as the starter and was outstanding in the post-season. While Diaz lacks the throwing ability of the other two catchers, he is a fine receiver with some good leadership qualities.

Trevor Brown also figures in the team’s catching plans although he will start at first base. Boruff could also see time at first to get his bat in the lineup.

PITCHERS

The loss of three pitchers who were drafted, Ryan Baerlocher (Kansas City), Fletcher Lee (San Francisco) and John Foster (Atlanta) in addition to outstanding seniors Clint Cameron and Rob Shoults, would normally be tough to replace, but the Warriors have some able returnees and a bevy of talented newcomers.

Senior right-handed pitchers Nick Stelzner (Nampa, Idaho), John Veitch (Tamborine, Australia) and Garnet Jensen (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada) and senior left-hander Anthony Ferrari (Greenbrae, Calif.) are looking toward a productive season. Ferrari was the most impressive pitcher on the staff during fall workouts. Cheff believes all four seniors have a chance to be very good with Ferrari’s ceiling as high as any lefty the program has had.

California junior college transfers Michael Natale (Whittier, Calif., Rancho Santiago JC), Mike Chavez (Selma, Calif., Fresno City College), Israel Torres (Compton, Calif., Cerritos College), Nick Padilla (Whittier, Calif., Cerritos College), Wes Hutchison (Burbank, Calif., Glendale CC) and Jake Kor (Oxnard, Calif., Moorpark JC) bring impressive credentials. Padilla, Hutchison, Kor and Natale are power-throwing right-handers, all capable of throwing 90 mph. Chavez was Fresno’s top winner, and when he recovers from a broken foot should challenge for a starting role. Torres has had an inflamed elbow since the last fall and will be questionable for early season games. Kor was injured coming in but should be ready by March.

Chris Mabeus (Soldotna, Alaska, Eastern Arizona College) and Colin Wolslegel (Rochester, Wash., Centralia College) are two more juco transfers high on Cheff’s list. Mabeus was tough during the fall and has a good shot at being a starter. Wolslegel will begin the season as a set-up guy out of the bullepen. David Aguilar (Union City, Calif., Chabot College) projects as one of the two candidates to be the closer along with Hutchison.

Lewiston native Ryan Heitmann transferred as a sophomore from Taft Junior College (Calif.). He came on strong during the latter stages of the fall.

Freshman Nic Puckett (Boise, Idaho) is rated by Cheff as one of LCSC’s best first-year prospects in recent years. The young lefty has to the best change-up on the staff. Two other freshman left-handers, Kyle Correa (Aiea, Hawaii) and Taylor Skidmore (Rathdrum, Idaho) lack only experience. Right-hander Johnny Alvarez (Rivas, Nicaragua) is projected to be a top hurler in the future.