Frazier second-year baseball coach Craig Kordich is hoping for a carryover effect.
Kordich learned a lot during his first year as coach in 2009, and so did several of his players.
When last season ended, the Commodores were fighting for a postseason berth -- and doing so with a group of young, talented players.
"Everything is a learning process the first time you go through it," Kordich said. "We ended the year with a couple of freshmen in the starting lineup. A lot of the young kids who played gained a lot of experience, and we're hoping to build on that.
"We came on strong toward the end of the season. We were in the hunt (for the playoffs) until the last couple games. Doing that with a couple freshmen in the lineup was big."
Those freshmen -- Tyler Rock, Adam Cooke and Robert Gondura -- are now sophomores, but according to Kordich, they're even more experienced than that.
"Any time you play when you're young, I think you gain two years' worth of experience," Kordich said. "I'm kind of looking at those guys as juniors right now. Plus, they played in the summer and Colt leagues and gained even more experience."
Frazier has the luxury of inserting its two top pitchers, senior Ron Holp and junior Zach Smalich, back in the rotation.
"They were our horses last year, and they'll be our horses again this year," Kordich said.
Offensively, the Commodores will likely get back to basics, according to Kordich.
Gone are Craig Rebovich, Pat Russell and Erick Adams, and the pop they provided is gone with them.
"I think we'll be all right," Kordich said. "We lost some power hitters, but we have some guys who will step in and do well. We're going to try to work the ball where we need to work it."
Kordich has penciled in Gondura at center field, and when Holp isn't on the mound, he'll be at third base. But that's about all that's certain at this early stage of the season.
"We've had a couple of strong days so far in practice," Kordich said.
Like last year, Frazier will compete in Section 2-AA, along with Brownsville, Burgettstown, Charleroi, Fort Cherry, Washington and Waynesburg Central.
"It was a very competitive section last year, and I don't look for it to be any different this year," Kordich said. "There are a lot of good ball clubs in this section."
Frazier will open the season with an exhibition home game Friday against Monessen.
