The baseball season is a series of small steps for the Helias Crusaders.
"We want to be better tomorrow than we are today," Helias coach Chris Wyrick said. "We're working to improve each time we're on the field, whether it's practice or a game.
"If you're happy at the start of the season, there's only room to go down. I don't want the players to be satisfied, you need to learn something each and every day in some facet of the game."
Helias, which will open the season today at Fatima, enters the season ranked No. 1 in Class 4 by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association.
"I haven't mentioned it once," Wyrick said. "I think it's more of a reflection of the program than this team specifically. It's flattering for people to think we have the talent to be No. 1, we're competitive in most games.
"But if anyone tells you in the preseason they are the No. 1 team in the state, they're kidding you. Nobody is No. 1 right now. Maybe we can live up to it."
The poll voters may have been impressed with the potential of Helias pitching staff, which features several veteran hurlers and is the strength of the team.
"We've got guys that throw strikes," Wyrick said. "We're not going to blow anybody away, we don't have anybody that's going to strike out 10-15 guys a game.
"But we have pitchers that are going to make hitters put it in play and that makes it easier for the defense. We have the ability to get ahead in the count and that does nothing but help keep your defense on its toes."
In last week's Jamboree, Crusader pitchers allowed just three walks in nine innings.
Clayton Winter, Josiah Imhoff, Cole Johnson, Ryan Graessle, Alex Faddoul and Kale Gerstner are among the seniors who figure to see time on the mound this season.
Imhoff and Johnson both did not pitch last season due to injuries. Gerstner is still recovering from an injury suffered during football season, but Wyrick said he could be ready to pitch as soon as the middle of April.
Faddoul pitched just one inning last year, that coming on Helias' trip to Florida, then went back to his regular position at shortstop as other Crusaders came back from injuries.
Drew Boessen, a junior, also figures to work a lot of innings this season, Wyrick said.
A big question entering the season is who the pitchers will be throwing to behind the plate. Nick Carr and Ryan Gartner, both seniors, and sophomore Austin Fennewald are fighting for the catching spot.
"Nobody has stood out yet," Wyrick said. "It's still a battle. Hopefully the competition will make each of them better and make my decision that much tougher."
Matthew Dampf and Graessle are bidding for time at first, while Dylan Gaines and Alex Werner will see time at second.
Faddoul will start at shortstop when he's not on the mound, while Imhoff and Winter will share time at third.
John McDonald will serve as a utility player around the infield.
"I'm looking for guys on the infield who can play the best defense," Wyrick said. "If you can't play defense, it's hard to put you on the field. You need to be able to play catch and do the right things."
Zach Stiles, Nolan Sachse, Landon Harrison, Cole Fennewald and Werner are in the mix in the outfield.
"We're trying to find different ways to get some of these kids on the field," Wyrick said.
In the batting order, the only player locked into a spot is Faddoul.
"He's a solid No. 3 hitter," Wyrick said. "We just need guys behind him that can protect him in the order, guys who have confidence in themselves they can do it."
Stiles, Sachse and Harrison will be in the mix for the two spots ahead of Faddoul. The rest of the lineup will be decided on who's hot at that time.
"We have some guys who can square up and hit it, but we're not a power team," Wyrick said. "We're going to have to manufacture runs like we always do. We need to get guys on base and we have to be able to move runners."
Helias is back in the Capital City Invitational and will play in the North Division at Hickman. The Crusaders are also in the Rock Bridge Tournament, where they could play as many as five games.
Also new to the schedule are Father Tolton and Eldon, which is the only potential district tournament opponent on the slate.
"We're ready to go after it," Wyrick said.
After playing Wednesday at Boonville, Helias will open its home schedule Monday against Battle.