Brentwood's varsity baseball team fielded a senior-laden lineup in 2007, when the Spartans finished with a 7-10 overall record.

There were 10 seniors on last year's club, which was led offensively by the likes of Jesse Gonzalez, who hit over .400 in each of his final two varsity seasons, Greg Costa, Mike Shortley and Craig Kornick.

Kornick is the only returning player in the bunch.

"With only two returning starters and four letterman, we will be very inexperienced at the varsity level to start the year," said Brentwood head coach Greg Perdziola. "The good thing is with all of the positions open it makes our practices very competitive."

Kornick, a Washington and Jefferson College recruit, is a three-year starter at the varsity level. He will play shortstop when not pitching again this season.

"We lost three of our top four pitchers from last year. Kornick will anchor our pitching staff. Last year he had to battle through some injuries and was 1-4 as a starter, but this year he will be the workhorse," said Perdziola.

"The rest of the rotation will be up for grabs."

Those competing for starting spots in the pitching rotation include seniors Matt Cahill, Ronny Schoedel and Jesse Palatucci, as well as juniors Jeff Held, Shane McWilliams and Brendan O'Brien.

"All of these players have pitched well in practice and have the ability to become good pitchers," Perdziola said.

Along with Kornick, who had a .333 batting average last year, two others expected to make big contributions this spring are Cahill, at catcher, and Palatucci, at first base where he lettered as a defensive specialist last season.

Cahill clubbed three home runs a year ago.

The following have been competing for playing time at the other infield positions: Donny Russ, a senior, and O'Brien, at third base; Schoedel, Zac Newman, a senior, and juniors Eric Samuel and Matt Jones, at shortstop and second base.

Vying for playing time in the outfield are juniors Justin Bodell, Evan Minahan, Ryan Leddy and McWilliams, and sophomores Dave Sexauer and John Laux.

Chris Fargotstein, a junior, and Held will back up Cahill behind the plate while Derek Michalski is a junior first baseman.

Kornick, Cahill, Palatucci and Russ are returning lettermen.

"From what I have seen so far, I think we can be a very competitive team this year and have a chance to make the playoffs," said Perdziola.

The Spartans wound up in a three-way tie for fifth place in Section 6AA last season.

Brentwood, Carlynton and North-gate tied for fifth behind Seton-La-Salle, Bishop Canevin, North Catholic and South Fayette in the section race.

"We have a very tough section. Last year three of the four teams to make it to the (WPIAL) semifinals were from our section, with North Catholic winning it all," said Perdziola.

"Seton-LaSalle will be the team to beat. They lost to North Catholic in the championship and return almost their whole team. Canevin, North Catholic, and South Fayette will also be very good this year."

Brentwood, long known for its outstanding hitting, scored 100 runs in 2007 and averaged 5.9 runs per game.

The Spartans defeated Sto-Rox twice and North Catholic, Northgate and Carlynton once in section action last season.

"Our pitching was good all season," Perdziola said. "Our hitting was inconsistent. We just couldn't get that timely hit when we needed it."