Troy Watkins is a numbers man, which is why last year's team batting average is so alarming.

The Austin baseball team hit a collective average of .235 last season, leading to a 6-17 overall and 5-13 Big Nine Conference record. The Packers return only four seniors from that squad, and first-year coach Watkins is hoping to change a turbulent trend.

"We did not put a lot of runs on the board last year," Watkins said. "You have to have an approach at the plate. Be a little bit more disciplined and know what you're trying to accomplish up there. We struck out way too many times."

The Packers lost seven one-run games and were shut out a total of six times.

Austin relied on its pitching to provide the team with means to an end last season, but four senior pitchers have since graduated. Kyle Rizzi returns as the top hurler with a 3.30 earned run average to contradict a 2-5 win/loss record. Rizzi went 40 1/3 innings with 37 strikeouts as a junior for the Packers and was an All-Conference pick at second base.

"He's returning from a strong season, and he had two of our six wins," Watkins said. "Pitching was our strength last year, but that's something that we'll have to find this year.

"We'll rely on Rizzi to give us a lot of innings, he'll be our main guy on the mound."

Austin returns just four seniors to the squad, and only Rizzi was a pitcher last season. Jordan Van Proosdy will play the outfield, Tony Weis will compete for first base, and Eric Ramirez is fighting for an outfield spot.

A crew of 12 juniors makes up most of the current roster of 16.

"They had a good B-squad team," Watkins said. "They've always hit the ball well, but they've kind of made up the pitching as they've gone."

Andy Swank, Nate Johnson and Sean Selmecki will provide some pitching for the Packers this season. Joey Kroc looks so far like the starting shortstop with Rizzi at second base, and Paul Leathers has the edge at third. Johnson has a step on center field, and a number of others will play key roles off the bench.

"It's going well so far," Watkins said. "I'm excited to get going with games and see what we've got, get outside and start competing. We're so young that there's so many positions open yet, we don't even have a lineup set."

Rizzi is also the top returning hitter, averaging .307 last year. Van Proosdy is the only other returner that saw regular playing time, hitting .138 while splitting time in the outfield.

Watkins expects perennial powers Rochester Mayo and Century to be the top teams in the Big Nine.