After what amounted to a rebuilding year last year, Northwestern's baseball team will be a veteran team this season.

The Tigers return all but two starters on a team that went 12-10 overall and 10-6 in the Colonial League. The team returns it's entire pitching staff, led by seniors Josh Williamson, Brandon Eden and Jordan Storm.

"I think with the squad that we have returning this year," said 33rd-year Tigers head coach Len Smith. "I would think the minimum goal would be to qualify for districts, and hopefully league playoffs, as well. Another thing that we're hoping to do is to advance further into playoffs than in recent years. This seems realistic, especially with our veteran squad returning."

Also returning are seniors Taylor Breininger and Nick Rodriguez, along with juniors Jake Augustus, Brady Mengel and Brandon Miller. Newcomers Tyler Schreiner, Isaac Fatzinger, Niko Fager and Zach Stanley will also help fill out the varsity roster.

The Tigers lose key players in Austin Yanek and Collin Breidinger. Both mainstays in the middle of the batting order. Breidinger was a leader behing the plate and was key in helping a young staff mature last season.

This year those young pitchers are expected to be savy veterans as the team has the potential to be one of the Colonial League top teams.

The young batting orders suffered too many strike outs last season, but with a year of expereince the team should be more experienced at the plate this year.