When the Austin baseball team gets rolling, the dugout usually starts chirping and the mood picks up.

What’s said in the dugout isn’t always exactly clear, but it’s always in good fun and it always keeps the Packers in an upbeat mood.

“A lot of things that go in the dugout are pretty fun, but sometimes it’s really off task,” Austin senior Jack Dankert said. “That’s kind of building memories for us of just hanging out with the guys.”

Dankert is one of eight Austin senior baseball players that have stuck with the sports since they were playing 10U baseball as youngsters. The group has created a s strong bond over the years and that’s carried over to some success on the field. The Packers are 10-4 overall this season and they have the inside track grabbing a top-three seed for the Section 1AAA tournament, which begins May 26.

“It was a lot of fun playing together as kids. We traveled together and we got to stay in hotels together. We got close with each over the years,” Austin senior Hunter Johnson said.

As the Packers put the finishing touches on what has been one of their better seasons in recent years, they’re hoping they can close things out on a high note. Austin head coach Joe Kroc said he’s like to see the team make a push for the Austin’s first state tournament berth since the early 1990s. That dream could be a reality as the Packers have won six of their last seven games, including six over tough Section opponents Red Wing and Winona.

While wining is important for the Packers, Kroc is equally impressed with the content of his team’s character.

“They’re great baseball players, but more importantly they’re great kids,” Kroc said. “They bring a lot of energy and a lot of different personalities, which is good on any team. They’re fun kids to be around. It’s been fun watching them grow.”

Although its their last year playing together, the Packers haven’t felt any pressure this season. They’ve simply enjoyed each other’s company and they’re trying to make it their best season yet.

“We’re out here with the group of guys we grew up and we’re having fun and we’re winning ball games,” Austin senior Ross Young said. “A lot of us have developed a love for the game and it keeps you coming back. [Baseball is] kind of my life. It’s the only sport I play and I play it year round.”

While some groups of athletes often find other sports or give up on sports as they grow older, these Packer baseball players have stuck with each other from the start. The all play different roles on the team, but they’ve all in it together.

Kroc said that’s a credit to how parents stepped up when the the seniors were younger.

“The bottom line is if you have to have a really good parent that really works to get guys involved in baseball and they try to get numbers at that grade level, you’re going to end up with a good senior class like this,” Kroc said. “It starts at the younger age with parents being involved, not just with their own son, but with other kids. I could point out a couple of parents in this group that want over and beyond in helping these kids grow. It’s a tremendous senior class and it’s showed this year.”

Dankert said it helps that the group has experienced a lot of winning at a lot of levels.

“We’ve got a good a group of guys and we’ve been pretty successful with it too,” Dankert said. “It’s tough to quit when you’re winning and I think having success makes kids want to go out.”

Austin’s other seniors include Josi Bothun, Phillip Zynda, Riley Retterath, Pete Conner, Jaxon Bell and Hunter Johnson.

Austin will host Rochester Century in a doubleheader in Seltz Field at 4 p.m. Friday.