The Jefferson City Renegades will have all of two practices under their belts heading into tonight's MINK League opener at Sedalia.
But that's normal for a team comprised of players from different colleges preparing to play in a summer baseball league.
"It's not a ton of time, but we got as much work in as we could," Renegades manager Mike DeMilia said. "It was a chance for us to set the tone for the summer and I think the guys have responded pretty well."
DeMilia, a former head coach at Lincoln and assistant at Truman State, followed his coaching style in the two practices. And the players, coming from various colleges around the Midwest, are accustomed to what they experienced in their just completed college seasons.
But in the end, it's baseball and things worked out.
"There were some hiccups, but I think we picked things up pretty quickly," DeMilia said. "It's just a way of doing things they aren't necessarily used to doing them."
This is the first year for the Renegades, who will play their home games at Vivion Field. The eight-team league is divided into North and South divisions.
Jefferson City is in the South, along with Joplin, Nevada and Ozark. The North is comprised of Chillicothe, Sedalia, St. Joseph and Clarinda, Iowa.
The players do not get paid to retain their college eligibility. The league is set up similar to the minor leagues, with players using wood bats, overnight road trips and a schedule featuring games nearly every day.
"I knew a lot of guys that played in the MINK, it's changed with some new teams, but a lot of it is the same," DeMilia said. "It's high quality, almost everybody has seven or eight Division I guys on their roster.
"You're going to see some quality baseball."
There is no roster limit for teams. The Renegades have 34 players their latest roster, which was updated just last week.
"You always have to have a backup plan," DeMilia said. "If something happens, it's always smart to have somebody you can call, just in case.
"I was talking to a coach the other day who told he was already on his eighth catcher. So it's not just us."
DeMilia has high expectations for the Renegades this season, something he expressed when the team met for the first time Monday. Even if he couldn't put all of their names with their faces.
"Fortunately, I knew most of them before they walked into the room," DeMilia said. "The ones I didn't, they were wearing their college stuff so I had a pretty good guess who they were."
The regular season will run through July 24, with the playoffs starting two days later.
"I think we will be as competitive as anybody in the league," DeMilia said. "Are we going to win the league title? I don't know about that.
"But we should be in the playoffs and if we do that, then it comes down to getting hot for those few days."
Taylor Thompson (Cuba High School, Emporia State University) will get the start in the opener for the Renegades in tonight's opener against the Bombers, the defending MINK League champions.
Jefferson City will have its home opener Friday against Sedalia. Game time is 7 p.m. The Renegades will then host Chillicothe in a two-game series Saturday and Sunday nights.