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Baseball coach Bret Hopkins in Ilwaco cannot wait.

“I am very excited to get going — great group of kids!” he enthused.

Ilwaco baseball

March 12 (a) Napavine, 2 p.m.

March 15 (h) Ocosta

March 22 (h) North Beach

March 25 (h) Toledo, 4 p.m.

April 12 (a) PeEll-Willapa Valley

April 19 (a) NW Christian

April 26 (h) Leschi

April 29 (h) Naselle

May 3 (h) Raymond-South Bend

3 p.m. unless indicated

Spring schedules subject to change

The key starting positions on the Ilwaco High School team will be filled from 17 to 20 student-athletes showing interest.

“Our key players are young,” Hopkins said. “They are all sophomores and juniors.”

As with other sports, covid killed off any prospect of a 2020 season. The players were back out on the diamond in a curtailed schedule in 2021.

“We finished a disappointing fourth last year in league play,” the coach said, noting that he had only three seniors who were mixed in with several freshman.

“Those freshmen are now sophomores. They had a very good summer season last year and won the 2021 South Washington Babe Ruth State Championship. Went on to regionals — and were a game away from going to the World Series in Texas.”

Hopkins is optimistic, but has his eye on solid opposition looming in his own and neighboring leagues.

PeEll-Willapa Valley is one. “I think PWV will be the team to beat in the Pacific and Toutle will be a juggernaut in the Central,” he predicted.