The overall lineup, although young, rivals any in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Table setter's Nick Crawford and Jason Hadley fit right in to their roles at the top of the order and get on base regularly for the big bats hitting behind them. Ryan Skertich and Garner Wetzel have as much power as any 3-4 combo in the SCAC.

Crawford is a scrappy player that sets the tone for the entire team. He's a walk machine, he can steal bases and he can drive in runs when called to do so as well as play solid defense at second base. Hadley, a similar player, though batting from the left side, may have more pop than Crawford. A good defender in left, Hadley's on base percentage, as well as Crawford's will be one of the key's to the Majors season. Both players run the bases well.

Skertich has always hit and always played stellar defense in centerfield, but he has never been asked to hit in the third spot in the lineup. The senior from River Ridge, LA, will be asked to drive in runs in bunches, but with Wetzel hitting behind him, he won't be the only option to do so.

Wetzel has the ability to take any pitcher deep and change the course of a game with one swing. The junior shortstop's light-tower power will earn many walks as pitchers will avoid giving up a game-changing mistake. Wetzel, the only player from the Majors to be placed on the David "Boo" Ferriss Award Watch List, an award that goes to Mississippi's top college baseball player, a junior from Gulfport, is an outstanding defender and will be asked to throw off the mound for the first time in his career. A good pitcher in high school, Wetzel has been clocked throwing 93 mph from the hill.

Hitting behind the front four are a group of players that bring different abilities to the table for Head Coach Jim Page, 42. Mostly young players, they can all hit.

Designated hitter's Joe Thrash, from Hattiesburg and Derrick Boland, from Nettleton, will be counted on to deliver timely hits. Thrash, a righthanded slugger will face lefties and Boland, a line drive hitter, who bats from the left side, will challenge righthanders.

Senior catcher Sherwood Collette, a transfer from the University of Arkansas-Monticello, is the probable starter behind the dish. Collette, from Jackson, is big, strong player that brings instant maturity, to a young Majors squad. Collette will be spelled by freshman backstop Nicky Prather. Prather, from Lafayette, LA, is a solid player that should start several games in his first season.

Sophomore Luke Morrow, from Dallas, TX, will step in at third base and sophomore John Pacillo, from Baton Rouge, LA, and freshmen Quinn Salmon, from Lafayette, LA, will also see plenty of innings at third. Pacillo will spell first basemen Ben Wilson as well. Wilson, a senior from Huntsville, AL, is a solid defender with a good line drive stroke.

Sophomore Joe Blades and freshman Cape Bell, both from Houston, TX will share rightfield duties. Blades, a righthanded hitter brings good speed to his position, he just needs some seasoning as a starter in the SCAC. Bell will be used primarily as pinch hitter, but he also has the ability to go deep from the left side and possesses excellent speed.

Sophomores Michael Worobel, from Hugo, MN, Taylor Jones, from Jackson and Randall Vaughan, from Brandon, as well as a strong freshman class of Hunter Owen, from Jackson, Stuart Wood, from Denton, TX, and Joby Gaudet, from Macon, GA, will all see playing time in the first season. Owen may start a few games before the year is through.

The pitching staff has plenty of experience returning and the entire starting rotation is back. Closer Tal Hendrix is just a junior, but the middle relief staff isn't quite as settled.

Fifth-year senior Doug Garner is returning from arm surgery although he is not expected to miss any starts to open the season. Garner, from Mobile, AL, is a big righthander who knows how to pitch and he's a proven conference player. Garner's career mark of 25-10 is 4th on the all-time school record list with a full season to play. Garner was granted a medical redshirt in 2004.

Todd Kindler is another big righthander that will be asked to throw a lot of innings for the Majors as he did in 2004. One of Page's most trusted arms, Kindler, from DeRidder, LA, threw a team leading 82 innings in 2004 and 78 innings in 2003.

Pitching Coach Cody McCain, 25, has the luxury of three senior starting pitchers with extensive experience in SCAC play on the mound. John Fox is the third starter on the 2005 squad that has thrown at least 100 innings over his career. Over 120 innings, Fox, from Evergreen, CO has allowed 48 runs and has four complete games over his career.

The bullpen remains mostly intact with junior closer Hendrix, from Jackson, returning and senior righthander Rob Elling, from Dallas, TX setting him up. Middle relief has one player returning in junior Brad Mizerany from Birmingham, AL. The rest of the staff could be filled by any of the five freshmen hurlers on the team.

Freshmen Jay Hollenbeck, from Memphis, TN David Hutzel, from Alpharetta, GA, Brandon Ingram, from Petal, James Slater, from Fulshear, TX, and Hunter Abrams, from Columbus, will all get a look during the season because a deep staff could carry this team through a long season and make all the difference entering the tournament.

Hutzel could return from a preseason back injury to be one of the Majors top pitchers. Pacillo could throw some innings as well in 2005. Hollenbeck and Hutzel were both heavily lauded coming out of high school. Abrams is the first reserve at shortstop.