With the first pitch of the season just days away, the Wildcat baseball team has great confidence as it heads down to Wichita this coming weekend.

The Wildcats were pre-ranked eighth in the conference during the coaches poll in January, but the team is ready to go out there and prove they are better than the eighth ranking.

“They base the ratings off of how we finished last year, and we know we have improved as a team so we use it as motivation,” head coach Alex Koch said.

The Wildcats’ main goal is to keep everyone healthy, but ultimately they want to be in the top three of the conference and try to grab a spot at regionals.

Koch knows that the season is a tough grind but they are prepared for the long haul.

“Really all we can think about is taking it one game at a time, and we have 10 seniors on the team that can lead us,” Koch said.

That’s right, the Wildcats have 10 seniors on the team that Koch describes as impact guys.

“Zak Leighton, Michael Herman and Kevin Anderson are all major vocal leaders,” Koch said.

Koch is also excited to see Eric Browning make big plays. Nate Ackerman, a junior transfer who was selected as the newcomer to watch, will be clutch in the batter’s box. Curtis Bussard, a junior outfielder who recorded no errors all last season, will be a key defensive player this year. He also holds the team’s second highest batting average.

With 10 senior leaders, great outfielders, and an ace pitcher like Browning, good things are expected for this Wildcats baseball team.

The Wildcats take off for Wichita on Friday and will play at 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturday against Newman University.