The Coupeville High School baseball team won the Olympic League pennant last spring, but if the Wolves want to finish on top of the new North Cascade Conference, they will need their youngsters to fill in for last year’s talented senior class.

Only five lettermen return from 2018: seniors Matt Hilborn, Dane Lucero, Jake Pease and Shane Losey, and junior Gavin Knoblich.

Hilborn is a two-time, all-league pitcher and infielder.

He and another three-year letterman, Lucero, will anchor a strong pitching rotation.

Young players expected to earn varsity playing time, according to coach Chris Smith, are Daniel Olson, Mason Grove, Ulrik Wells and Hawthorne Wolfe. Most played on last summer’s regional-qualifying Babe Ruth team.

Some others, Smith added, “will definitely have the opportunity to help.”

The goals are to make a run at the league championship and qualify for the state tournament, Smith said.

“It will be a successful season if we play good baseball and maintain a high level of motivation, energy and effort regardless of the outcome,” he said.

Coupeville (15-6 last year) gets the season started with a home game at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, with Friday Harbor.