BY YANEEK SMITH

Coach: Nick Lance

Last year: 12-16 (5-5 SBC Bay)

Outlook: Oak Harbor starts some youngsters on the mound, but he’s confident that they, and by extension the team, can compete.

Michael LaLonde is the No. 1 starter for the Rockets, and Brayden Butzin is a pitcher, too. When LaLonde is not pitching, he plays shortstop, and Butzin is a catcher, too.

In the batter’s box, LaLonde leads off and Butzin hits third.

The other pitchers include Mason Wagner, Evan Hurrell, Karson Lajti, Hayden Craig, Tyler Shadoan, Tim Marquette and Brayden Myerholtz.

“Our weaknesses is just our inexperience,” said Oak Harbor coach Nick Lance. “We have athleticism, but just lack real game reps.”

The lineup, which is still in flux, features Wagner (3B), Hurrell (1B), Myerholtz (2B), Marquette, LaLonde, Butzin, Grant Belcher (1B) and Kaden Burroughs. The outfield is a mix of Keegan Witt, Tyler Shadoan, Hayden Craig (CF) and Karter (RF) and Karson Lajti (LF).

It’s been 10 years since Oak Harbor won a league championship. Could this be the year the Rockets win the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division?

“If we play like I know we can on a consistent basis, I think we have a chance to compete with anyone,” said Lance. “Our league is pretty evenly-matched, so on any given night it’s a toss up.”