Lewis-Clark State baseball fans definitely will need their scorecards Saturday when the Warriors open the 2018 season at Harris Field with a noon doubleheader against Central Washington. After all, there are twice as many new Warriors are there are veterans on the field for coach Jeremiah Robbins and staff.
 
"There's a lot of mystery to this team," Robbins said. "There are a lot of pieces we feel confident about but how are they are going to fit together once we're in our uniforms and it's game day?"
 
The good news is, with a comparatively mild winter, the staff has had plenty of opportunity to assess the new talent. That and the Warriors' rich baseball tradition guarantees a high quality of new talent.
 
"With what we've done the last three years and what the program has done for the last 40-something years," Robbins said, "there is a certain kid that would like to come here. We're excited about that."
 
The 2018 blend of newcomers includes high school freshmen who will see playing time, junior college graduates, and Division I transfers.
 
"It's an interesting mix," Robbins said. "We'll put them all together and put them out there and compete."
 
No matter who is in the starting lineup Saturday – and throughout the rest of the season – Robbins has a message to inspire fierce competition, attention to detail, and a relentless work ethic.
 
"Don't go into this season thinking you're defending the national championship," he said. "You're going after a national championship. That's the one thing we've told them numerous times."
 
Here is a position breakdown for the 2018 Warriors.
 
Catchers
One new face joins veterans Matt Thompson and Darren Trainor, the latter who redshirted last season.
 
"We're real excited about our catching situation," said Robbins with the addition of Cory Voss (a transfer from McLennan College) to the catching contingency. "We feel they could catch for anybody in the nation.
 
"All three bring offense to the table. We need a little more defense out of all three but it's coming. Overall, we're very confident in our catching group."
 
Trainor brings the added element of being able to play multiple positions, which might come in handy given the infield is almost void of returners – most of whom were drafted after last season and are on minor league rosters now.
 
Infield
Gone are Micah Brown, J.J. Robinson, Gunnar Buhner and Seaver Whalen. Only first baseman Brock Ephan is back and he has spent part of the off-season recovering from injury.
 
"That's almost all completely new," Robbins said of the group. "There are some holes to fill. They were very talented players but how they led that infield; the leadership role they had for us was special."
 
The vacancies do give Tyler McDowell (a first baseman in 2016 and an outfielder in 2017) the chance to return to his natural area of play.
 
At the other infield spots will be some freshmen and JC transfers. The freshmen are familiar to the L-C valley in Lewiston High product Riley Way and Clarkston's A.J. Davis. Robbins also likes what he as seen from Max Draijer, a junior college transfer who grew up in The Netherlands, as well as 2017 redshirt Makana Victorine and transfer Kyle Callahan.
 
"It's an interesting animal, our infield," Robbins said. "There are a lot of unknowns; unproven guys. It's all about the effort they put in on a daily basis. Soar far, that's been really good."
 
Outfield
Robbins likes what he has seen her, especially with the return of center fielder and Charley Hustle Award winner Raymond Pedrina.
 
"Whenever Ray Pedrina is still in our lineup," Robbins said, "it's a phenomenal thing. He raises the talent of everyone around him with his work ethic and what he does on the baseball field. To have him is huge."
 
Robbins also had kudos for veteran Kasey Bailey and newcomer Joey Parente.
 
"(Bailey) has had the best fall of anybody out there," Robbins said. "We're excited about him. And Joey Parente has come in and done a phenomenal job."
 
The depth in the outfield is different than what Robbins and his staff have worked with the past couple of season.
 
"Our outfield has a lot of depth; a lot of pieces," Robbins said. "The last few years, we've been taking infielders and putting them in the outfield – kind of plugging and chugging out there a bit. Now, we have a great group of outfielders. We're excited about them."
 
Pitching
Even though the Warriors don't have the go-to starter like they had in Connor Brogdon or Kevin Hamann last season, Robbins is happy with his pitching staff.
 
"It's going to be a different staff this year," he said. "You won't see guys going six, seven innings. We're trying a different model. It will be unique in how we manage our staff. It isn't a bad thing. It's just different."
 
Although Robbins regularly uses 3-4 pitchers per game early in the season, it appears this style could go the entire season. The pitchers also will be battling every practice for their time on the mound.
 
"That increases the competitiveness," Robbins said. "There will be nothing predetermined. It could be anybody that could start."
 
Among the veterans who return, there is a commitment to leadership and camaraderie.
 
"I really like how the returners have come back and embraced the staff," Robbins said. "I'm excited to see who steps forward out of the group and competes for that starting rotation. It's going to be an interesting group. They're very competitive."