The baseball team has one goal above all others.
"We want to win the conference," said Eagles head coach Frank DeSmit, speaking of his club grabbing top honors in the West Shore Conference where Vermilion is the defending champion and Rocky River runner up.
"We were third last year," added DeSmit, whose team was 9-5 in the WSC and 16-12 overall. The Eagles lost No. 1 pitcher Josh Pierce to graduation on his way to playing at Kent State.
"We also lose our No. 1 catcher Quinn Rambo and middle infielders Mike Moralez and Jake Disch," continued the fourth-year head coach of the Eagles.
The reason winning the WSC is so high on the list for the Eagles is history.
"As far as we can research, Avon has never won a league title in baseball in any league they have been a part of," said DeSmit. "In fac,t before I came here, .500 seasons were rare. We have had a couple of winning seasons, so that is why we are optimistic about that goal."
A junior-dominated team, Avon does have a senior with much on his right shoulder -- Jordan Musser, the Eagles' No. 1 starter. He is joined in the starting pitching rotation by junior Anders Mahon.
"What we have had missing in the time I have been here is senior leadership," said the Eagles coach.
"What we are asking of our seniors is to be leaders on the field, in the dugout and in the classroom," said DeSmit.
"A lot of other coaches have sympathy for spring coaches like baseball and track," he added. "By the time seniors who play multiple sports get to spring of their senior year, they have had four years of going at it," he said alluding to senioritis.
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"We'll see what happens."
In the infield, DeSmit sees junior first baseman Ryan Rogers return while senior Zach Allen comes to third base with some experience. Behind the plate, DeSmit has senior Alex Lawrence, who saw some time last year behind Rambo.
The middle infield has senior Mike Blanc at shortstop while second is still open. That might be filled with infield candidates in sophomore Donny Kelly or junior Ryan Poyle. Adam Horrocks is expected to catch and play outfield along with and senior Cody Schroeder, who also pitches.
The outfield will be a mix of junior Matt Echkardt, junior Brendan Cannon and Horrocks along with junior Joel Yeagley while the designated hitter spot will in most situations goes to senior Adam Rink.
This is the second season the Eagles will call home.
"It allows us to get an early start to the season," said DeSmit. "We can practice here on dates when the weather is good. The first year I was here, the first time we got outside was for our very first game. Now we are able to practice outside long before our first game. The only down side is when we have a game canceled. We have problems finding makeup dates because Cleveland State has priority on dates they already have scheduled."
But DeSmit admitted it is a small price to pay for the ability to play on the Field Turf facitity.
The Eagles, who split a pair of one run games last week, beating Fairport Harbor, 5-4, and losing, 2-1, to Holy Name, opened West Shore Conference play Monday at home against North Ridgeville.