Coach: Steve LaPointe (37th year)

Conference: MVC Class: B South

Last year’s record: 7-10, lost in Class C preliminary

Returning players: Seniors — JT Greene, Curtis Steele, Alex Ridley, Tim Fitzgerald; Juniors — John Pepin, Nick Newman, Jacob Beauchesne, Jon Adley, Andrew Arsenault

Key losses: Caleb Gauvin, Ian Austin, Logan Wilhoite, Tucker Rowland, Tom Marshall, Josh Mason.

Promising newcomers: Senior — Austin Oswald; Freshmen — Garrett Garbarini, Cam Godbois, Ethan Laubauskas, Jacob Blanchard.

Season outlook: The Falcons have some nice pieces in place. Fitzgerald returns as staff ace for the third consecutive year. He was 5-4 a year ago. Mountain Valley is strong up the middle with Newman starting his third season behind the plate and Pepin at shortstop. A number of .300 hitters return. LaPointe is enthusiastic about the freshmen’s live arms. The Falcons move back up to Class B, which will make it more difficult to squeeze into the playoffs, but they have the talent to get there.