Not much has changed on North Callaway baseball’s roster.

That is why the Thunderbirds this season like the experience and depth they have on the team. Most of their pitchers and starters are back in what they hope is an improvement from a 12-12 record last year.

“We have seven seniors as well as two juniors who have started since they were freshman, so we are a veteran-heavy team,” Lavy said. “We finished in the middle of the pack last year. The top of the conference has been extremely competitive the last few years, and we hope to be in that mix this season.”

North Callaway finished 5-5 in the Eastern Missouri Conference, falling to the middle of the standings behind conference champion Bowling Green. The Thunderbirds lost to the Bobcats earlier in the season and also had losses to other conference teams like Elsberry, Wright City and Montgomery County, who all finished with winning records and were ahead of North Callaway in the conference standings.

To get a good start in games, the Thunderbirds will rely on senior Braydn O’Neal at the top of the lineup. As the team’s leadoff hitter and shortstop, the Columbia College recruit led North Callaway with a .403 batting average, .545 on base percentage, 28 stolen bases, 30 runs scored and 27 hits. O’Neal was only caught stealing once during his first-team all-conference utility season and also all-district-worthy year.

“He’s a very versatile guy,” Lavy said after O’Neal signed with Columbia College in January. “He can play the infield, outfield, I’ve seen him catch and he pitches for us. He’s going to show up on time, be there, do extra work, and you’re not going to have to worry about him in the classroom or away from the field.”

Junior Kyle Pennell also earned all-district honors for North Callaway as he finished with a .324 average, 23 hits, 19 RBI and a team-high six doubles. Senior Jordan Fishburn tied Pennell for the team lead in doubles as he had a .250 average, 15 hits and a team-high 18 walks.

Among the other returning starters are sophomore Keaton Bell (.271 average), sophomore catcher Carter Moore, senior Matthew Weber and senior Davis Woods, who drove in nine of his 17 RBI last season in one game against Kirksville after hitting two grand slams — a program-first feat.

Woods will be relied on more for his arm, though, as he posted a 2.97 ERA in eight appearances and seven starts, completing one game. He struck out 35 batters in 351/3 innings while walking 11 and giving up only six extra base hits.

Bell had, by far, the best ERA in his 222/3 innings of work as he finished with a 0.62 ERA along with 24 strikeouts, 14 hits, one walk and one extra base hit surrendered. O’Neal had a 3.05 ERA in seven appearances, with three starts and one complete game, Weber struck out 28 in 16 innings but had 14 walks, and junior Sam Pezold had 20 strikeouts in 162/3 innings along with 11 walks.

“I like the way our pitching depth has developed,” Lavy said. “We have six guys that can really compete on the mound. We have to defend better than we did last year to help that be one of our strengths.”

After a couple of postponements today in South Callaway, North Callaway’s first game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday at home against Fulton.