Community R-6 athletes will be on the diamond for the love of the game.

The Trojans have had winning seasons in recent years and have lost many kids from those winning teams. However, they haven’t lost much excitement from their roster.

Head coach Joel Krato said, while kids will be elevated into bigger roles this season and will need some time to adjust, this year’s Community baseball team isn't lacking when it comes to loving the game. The Trojans were out on a cool Saturday night practicing and not showing any discontent.

“We have a bunch of kids who love playing baseball,” Krato said. “Every day of practice this year, we haven’t gone less than two and half hours, and that’s inside. First day outside was almost four hours. You never felt that any kid didn’t want to be here.”

Krato said Community will be returning one kid with more than one year of varsity experience and starting five kids who have never started a spring season. With only one freshman and six seniors who graduated from last year’s team, Community has 14 or 15 the roster this season after having over 20 players the last three years, but Krato expects the roster to be at a normal level next season.

Fortunately, Krato said this team has some varsity-level experience from playing in the fall season. The Trojans have mostly juniors and sophomores and might have only two seniors in the lineup.

“They have fun competing with each other,” Krato said. “The key for us is we may not be the best team when the season starts, but when you have a bunch of kids who love playing baseball, we’re going to get better.”

Drake Welch stands out to Krato as one of the team’s top pitchers and top bats. Welch has been working hard over the last few years and just needs to see results on the field.

“He potentially could be a conference MVP candidate depending on the success of our team,” Krato said. “He is an upper 70 or lower 80 mph arm which, in Class 1, plays really well. He potentially could hit some out.”

Cooper Rohan was the team’s No. 1 pitcher during the fall season, and Kyler Swaim is a left-handed arm who threw well in spring and fall. Krato said Nik Crider is “young and raw” but should be an all-conference player in the future.

Community lost two big weapons at the plate and especially on the mound in each of the last two years. Gavin Allen graduated and then Mason Carroll graduated after last season. The all-state players are both pitching in college, but Krato said this team’s pitching has its own advantages.

“This is the year where I’ve probably got my best depth at pitching,” Krato said. “Gavin and Mason were great, and they are both collegiate arms. This year, we don’t have the horse of an all-state pitcher, but we have five kids at 60-70+ mph and that have sat 70+ in bullpens.”

Welch has reached 81 mph, Crider has reached 77 mph, Rohan has reached 74-75 mph, Swaim has reached 75 mph and Houston Hogan has reached 73 mph.

Among the position players, Krato thinks highly of several kids. Lane Carter reminds Krato of Eli Johnson because of his stature and strength, Rohan reminds Krato of all-state and college outfielder Ayden Meranda, and Welch reminds Krato of Carroll.

Since the Trojans have so much youth this year, Krato said their success will depend on how much his kids develop. That includes how they deal with failure.

“I’m excited what we’re going to be this year because I don’t know,” Krato said. “You have some kids where their ceiling could be high. The sky is the limit for us, but it’s just how close are we to the sky right now?”