LAKEVILLE - With the return of several letterwinners and starters, the LaVille baseball team is gearing up for the 2025 high school season. In the early going, weather was a bit warmer than usual, giving coach Brian Lawler's club the opportunity to hit the field. "We have had several intersquad games and are looking forward to playing an official game," said the 10th year Lancer skipper. Experience is a key word for Lawler and LaVille assistants Scott Wieczorek and Bob Harvey. A total of 12 letterwinners are ready to hit the diamond and work to improve on a 15-9 overall season.  LaVille finished 10-4 in the final year of the Hoosier North Athletic Conference, good for second place. Leading the LaVille offense will be the trio of senior Karson Quinn, classmate Collin Czarnecki and junior Andre Gonzales.   Quinn hit .432 and led LHS in runs batted in.  Czarnecki had a solid .411 season at the plate, led the team in hits and on-base percentage, and was a co-leader in base on balls.  Gonzales returns following a .364 average at the dish. Others back senior first baseman Sean Kubsch, senior pitcher Andrew Wolford, and senior infield/pitcher Xzavian LaFave. Juniors returning are outfielder Riley Filley, outfield/first baseman Braedyn Foster, infielder/pitcher Bryden Schwitz, and catcher/first baseman Caleb Howard.  Sophomores are outfielder Cameron Brown and outfielder Izzy Miller. And among those letterwinners is a full handful of pitchers that (knock on wood) if they stay healthy, giving Lawler & Company experience on the bump and a veteran in Quinn behind the dish and on the mound. "We will be strong behind the plate with returning catcher Karson Quinn, who will also see some time on the mound," noted Lawler.  "We will return plenty of innings from last season with Andrew Wolford, Bradyen Schwitz, Collin Czarnecki, and Andre Gonzales."  The aforementioned pitching staff returns over 96 innings of work from a year ago. Continuing on the plus side, several players have game experience at multiple positions.  Czarnecki, Quinn, Wolford, Braedyn Foster, Gonzales, Schwitz, and others can play other spots, depending on who is pitching. According to Lawler, that will likely be the case as the coaching staff determines who starts on the mound. "We know Sean Kubsch will be at 1st base," Lawler said when asked about key defensive positions.  "And we will see a rotation around the infield depending on who is pitching that day.  It will be Brayden, Collin, and Andrew working the middle of the infield.  We will have Andre out in CF and with the other 2 positions will have lots of possibilities." Lost to graduation is Lucas Plummer, who was the #1 pitcher, compiling 2.14 earned run average in 52.1 innings pitcher, second on the team with a .333 batting average and second on the team in extra base-hits. LHS closed the book on the HNAC at the end of the 2024 spring season. According to Lawler the Indiana Northern State Conference will be a challenge. "It will be a tough conference for us in baseball, but we are looking forward to it," said the Lancer boss.  "We like the fact that we play back-to-back games with conference teams.  We know its gonna be tough but will get us ready for a tough sectional." LaVille is set to play in the IHSAA Class 2A Sectional #34 at Jimtown from May 28-June 2.  Bremen, Career Academy South Bend, Knox, Winamac join the Lancers and Jimmies. The Lancers open the season with six non-conference games before a INSC contest against Tippecanoe Valley on April 17, then at Valey on April 18. 2024 LAVILLE BASEBALL Head Coach: Brian Lawler (134-98 in 10th season at LaVille) Assistant Coaches: Scott Wieczorek, Bob Harvey 2024 Record: 15-9 overall (10-4 HNAC) Letterwinners Lost: 4 Lucas Plummer, Joey Drinkwine, Collin Slisz, Brenden Goffinet Letterwinners Returning: 12 Seniors - Collin Czarnecki (INF/P), Sean Kubsch (1B), Karson Quinn (C), Andrew Wolford (OF/P), Xzavian LaFave (P/INF). Juniors - Riley Filley (OF), Braedyn Foster (OF/1B), Andre Gonzales (OF/P), Brayden Schwitz (INF/P). Caleb Howard (C/1B). Sophomores - Cameron Brown (INF/OF), Izzy Miller (OF) NEWCOMERS - 5 Freshmen - Asa Coplen (P/OF), Preston Eickleberry (C/OF), Griffen Smith (INF/P), Landon Swihart (2B), Lucas Underwood (INF/P) Opener: April 2 v. South Bend Riley, 5:30pm Ooutlook: "The team has been coming along and working hard the first 2 weeks of the season.  We have had several intersquad games and are looking forward to playing an official game.  We have several experienced, older guys back at key positions and look forward to getting out there and competing." - Brian Lawler, LaVille head baseball coach