What the Riverland Community College baseball team lacks in numbers it plans to make up with fun.

First-year head coach Scott Koenigs has faith that his limited squad will survive the grueling Minnesota Community College Conference schedule because of its cohesiveness and dedication to the game. The players' addiction to baseball, as well as volleyball, softball and football (video games), will pave the way for a season thriving on team unity.

A Nintendo -- the classic version, not the new-wave technology brand -- is set up in the lockerroom for pre- and post-practice confrontations off the field. Only the best games -- Baseball Stars, Tecmo Super Bowl, Super Spike V'Ball, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!, and soon-to-arrive Dusty Diamond's All-Star Softball -- are ready to play. The Blue Devils even made a team trip to the bowling alley Saturday for an afternoon of gaming.

"The chemistry on the team is unreal," Koenigs said. "One luxury we have is a number of athletic players who can play a bunch of different positions, so the low numbers doesn't concern me as much."

Coming off one of the program's strongest seasons, the Blue Devils begin anew with only five returning sophomores and a roster total of 11 heading into Tuesday's 1 p.m. opener at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City.

Riverland finished 2002 with a 21-13 overall record and 17-7 MCCC South Division mark. Then-head coach Dave Meyer, an Austin High School graduate, produced a positive atmosphere for Blue Devil baseball with the expectation of winning. Riverland went on to finish second in the South Division, fourth in the MCCC State Tournament and fourth in Region XIII.

But Meyer also left behind a blank roster of recruits. Only five of 10 freshmen made the transition to becoming second-year players because of ineligibility or simply not wanting to play. Koenigs, a Southland High School graduate, called upon his web of connections throughout the area's baseball community and constructed the contingent that will hit the field when the season begins Tuesday.

"We lost a lot of kids," Koenigs said. "We have 11 guys right now, and hopefully we can add more guys here pretty soon. Twelve we could survive on.

"We'll just have to pick up the pieces and see how the season goes."

Nine of the starting 11 are sophomores, seven of which have collegiate baseball experience. Hayfield native Mike Haugen transfers in from Winona State University and Matt Dixon moves in from NIACC.

"It's going to be a lot different than last year," said sophomore Jamie Morrison. "We had 18 guys and this year we only have 11. Pretty much every guy's got a lot of playing time, so we don't have to worry about that. I really do feel good about the other guys we've got coming in. We spend a lot of time together."

AHS graduates Clint Ripley and Morrison make up part of Riverland's crew of returning starters. Nate Vollbrecht and Jeff Giesler, both from Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, and Derek Bonser (Triton) complete the cast.

Ripley is the team's top returning pitcher, boasting a 6-2 record from his freshman campaign. Vollbrecht hit .410 last season and Morrison batted around .390 as Riverland chased rival Ridgewater College into the postseason. Ridgewater -- ranked 14th in the National Junior College's Division III preseason poll -- is first on the Blue Devils' hit list.

"We should make regionals for sure," said Vollbrecht, the starting shortstop. "We should be there, as long as we can beat Ridgewater.

"We've got a quality 11 with a lot of guys back from last year and our pitching staff should be one of the best in the conference."

Ridgewater claimed its fourth straight South Division crown, finished second in the MCCC State Tournament, won the region and ended seventh in the NJCAA World Series. Head coach Dwight Kotilla led Riverland to its only region championship in 1998.

Riverland's home opener is Friday, April 4, against Ridgewater.

"When it comes to baseball they're all pretty hard workers," Koenigs said. "We've had a couple days of practice outside and they're all kind of champing at the bit to get outside and play."

The Blue Devils will bank on a bullpen bolstered by Ripley and Haugen, who will be the opening-day starters after sharing the mound for the local amateur Class C Austin Merchants last summer.

Bonser, Giesler and Dixon will be ready in relief. Bonser saw time at first base last season while Giesler was an outfielder. Giesler will start in center field with Morrison likely in right. Dixon will be widely used as a utility player because of his willingness to help the team any way he can.

"He will play a slew of positions for us," Koenigs said of Dixon. "He'll probably be our starting catcher, and he will pitch for us too. He throws hard."

Riverland's glaring weakness will be at catcher as none of the players are natural to the position. Dixon's strong arm and fundamentals make him the most viable option.

"We may catch by committee unless we can land a catcher," Koenigs said. "It does concern me that we don't have a catcher, but all the guys are willing to do it for the team."

Sophomore Curt Peterson (Kenyon-Wanamingo) may also contribute to the pitching corps as soon as his hip injury from the basketball season heals. Peterson played baseball in high school but was a Riverland tennis participant last spring.

Morrison may also be used to pitch an inning or two toward the end of games.

Lyle/Pacelli alum Ryan Wiechmann, Albert Lea graduate Adam Highum and Todd Walerak from Chaska will play various positions throughout the season. Wiechmann and Highum may contribute in the outfield, and Walerak was a second baseman for the Merchants last summer.

Riverland's first three sets of doubleheaders are on the road against teams who made spring trips. The Devils start Tuesday with NIACC at 1 and 3 p.m. Waldorf (Forest City, Iowa) hosts a pair next Sunday starting at 1 p.m., and Rochester entertains the MCCC South Division opener for both teams April 1.

"I'm looking forward to it," Koenigs said. "I think this is a program we can really build and be pretty strong in the conference and in the state."

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.