"I'm pretty excited," he said. "I can't wait to start playing games."

The M's began practice nearly two months ago and don't start the season for another couple of weeks.

Most of the faces on the team will be familiar to Homer's baseball fans as the team lost just two graduating seniors Justin Adams and Luke Gilbert from a young squad a year ago.

This season, the roster is chocked full of seniors as Michael Fielding, Tad Martin, Adam Trieweiler and Johnny Watry return and Taylor Layland laces up the cleats for the first time.

Trieweiler and Watry proved last season that they were tough to beat on the mound and will handle much of the pitching duties this season.

Fielding, a powerful hitter and solid third baseman, will also pitch from time to time, Kuhns said.

Martin will play catcher and is "probably one of the hardest working kids on the team," Kuhns said. "He's such a perfectionist on what he tries to do everyday. He's a true leader. I can't say enough positive about (him)."

Kuhns also is excited about Layland's athleticism and speed, especially for a kid his size at 6-foot, 5-inches tall.

"I wish I had him as a freshman," Kuhns said.

Matt Fogg, a speedy outfielder with a good jump on the ball is the lone junior on the 13-man varsity roster.

Then there are five sophomores and two freshmen.

"We don't have a lot of numbers, but we'll have our starting nine or 10 guys we'll rely on," Kuhns said. "Everyone we have on the roster is capable of starting and playing."

Kuhns was high on Josh Gilbert who played varsity hoops this winter and has grown significantly from his freshman year.

He also expects big things from Vance Wolford, Connor and Garett McCarthy and Justin Frink, who started several games at first base last year as a freshman.

"This is a very cohesive team," Kuhns said.

The M's season begins May 5 with a double header at Wasilla.

A rule change this year will allow two teams from the seven-team Northern Lights Conference to make it to the state tournament.

The toughest competition should come from Palmer, who had a young team last year, Colony and Wasilla. Kodiak may be down from years past, but they always play Homer tough, Kuhns said. Valdez could be a surprise and Soldotna enters the mix for the first time.

Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@homernews.com.