After a year-long delay, Year 1 of Capital City baseball is set to begin.
"It's just gonna take us a little bit longer to get where we want to be just because we do have to lay that foundation, yet still," Capital City coach Brett Skinner said.
Capital City will play in its first varsity contest against the Fatima Comets at noon today at home.
The Cavaliers aren't going into the season completely cold, having a handful of games under their belts from the summer league after missing out on a spring season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"They've got their feet wet a little bit," Skinner said, " and got to see what it looks like at that next level."
Capital City has a handful of juniors ready to lead the way.
Taggert Bodenstab and Brett Kuebler will cover ground in left field and center field, respectively. In right field will be sophomore Caydin Englelbrecht.
"Our outfield is definitely gonna be our strength," Skinner said. "We've got a lot of speed out there."
Trey Jennings, a sophomore, will also get time in the outfield when Bodenstab is on the mound.
Another junior starter will be Grayson Jones at first base, with sophomores Jamisen Schwarzer and Bryson Holtmeyer battling for playing time there as well.
At the other corner position, junior Carlos Ayala and sophomore Cooper Rowden will split time.
A pair of freshmen will anchor the middle of the infield, with Noah Nicklas at second base and Brock Miles at shortstop.
"We like his skill set and I think he'll help us a little bit," Skinner said of Nicklas. " They're a good little duo."
Miles could also see time behind the plate, but sophomore Xaine Henderson is slotted at catcher now.
Skinner said Nicklas could take a spot at the top of the batting order.
"He's got good, quick hands," he said. "He's not gonna strike out, he's gonna put it in play."
Bodenstab and Kuebler bring solid bats toward the top of the lineup, as well as Engelbrecht and Miles.
"He can swing it," Skinner said of Miles.
Bodenstab is slotted as the No. 1 pitcher. Rowden, Engelbrecht, Jones, Ayala and Jennings will also take the mound for the Cavaliers.
"We've got some dudes with potential," Skinner said. "I think that's where last year hurt us a lot too, they didn't get to get that experience."
Capital City has a busy first week ahead, with road games Monday, Tuesday and Thursday against Owensville, Blair Oaks and Waynesville, respectively.
"We've got pieces to compete," Skinner said. "That's just going to be the biggest thing. Are we learning? Are we getting better day by day? Are we taking stuff from practice and putting it in games? Are we learning from our mistakes in games?"
Capital City's first Central Missouri Activities Conference game is scheduled for March 30 against Jefferson City at Vivion Field.
Capital City will face Hickman and Rock Bridge back-to-back April 5-6 at home. The Cavaliers will host the Battle Spartans on April 8, Helias will visit Capital City in April 12, and the home-and-home against Sedalia Smith-Cotton will be completed April 20-21.
"It's gonna be a really good baseball conference," Skinner said. "Lots of great coaches and lots of talent in there. Whoever wins our conference in baseball every year, it's gonna be well earned for sure."