For the Oak Harbor High School baseball team to be successful this season, it will need its youngsters to grow up in a hurry.

The Wildcat program includes only four seniors and four juniors.

While Oak Harbor will be young, once it overcomes its growing pains, it should be very competitive, according to Cody Anderson, who will co-coach the varsity this year with Tyson VanDam.

He likes the talent of the sophomore and freshman groups, each featuring 16 players.

Because of the team’s youth, Anderson said he has no real expectations other than “to play solid baseball.”

“We want to make the playoffs,” he added, “but the main thing is to see growth.”

The Wildcats do, however, have experience in one important area — on the mound.

Oak Harbor returns three strong pitchers in seniors Trent Benson, Steven Richards and Chad Spradlin.

“However, we will be really inexperienced at the plate,” Anderson said. “A lot of sophomores will need to step up.”

Among the other returnees is senior center fielder Dylan Bailey, who will anchor an impressive defensive unit in the outfield, Anderson said.

Other lettermen are juniors James Besaw, Will Danielson, Kamren Mebane and Cory Roberts and sophomore Caleb Fitzgerald.

Five sophomores – Thomas Anderson, Austin Boesch, Joe Dixon, Donny Klower and Aaron Martinez – are expected to help complete the lineup, according to Anderson.

Oak Harbor was 5-14-1 last season, including finishing fifth in the Wesco North at 3-12.

The ‘Cats will start the season at the Anacortes Jamboree at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 9, and then jump right into conference play when Everett visits at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 16.