Senior shortstop Frank Petroskey hit .506 last year and in November signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Vermont on a partial baseball scholarship. Petroskey had a 17-game hitting streak last season with 20 stolen bases, nine doubles, six triples and two home runs.

``Frank is like having a coach on the field,’’ said CCS baseball coach Frank Miosek. ``I’ve never heard him say a negative word to any of his teammates or anyone else for that matter. He always plays with a competitive edge. He’s a great athlete and a better citizen.’’

Junior catcher Philip Pohl was the Center State Conference Most Valuable Player a year ago after batting a team-leading .508 with 17 stolen bases and 18 runs batted in. He is also a gifted defensive catcher with a strong arm, as evidenced by the fact he threw out 10 base runners last, including five trying to steal second and five who had wandered too far from first base and were picked off by Pohl’s strong right arm. He allowed just two passed balls all season and committed only three errors.

``After a while his reputation precedes him, and runners don’t really take too many chances on him,’’ said Cooperstown baseball coach Frank Miosek. ``The great thing about Philip is that not only is he a very good baseball player and loves the game, but he has a great disposition too. He’s easy to coach, he listens and works hard. He’s just a tremendous young man.’’

Both Petroskey and Pohl played for the Empire States Games team last summer and attended several baseball showcases.

Senior Luke Banner is the ace of the pitching staff, and was named a first team CSC All Star last season after recording a 7-1 pitching record, including a no-hitter. Banner pitched a four-hit shutout in a complete game victory over Beaver River in sectionals last season as well. He accumulated 49 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched. As the team’s leadoff hitter, he hit .429 with 22 stolen bases. Banner will play third base when not on the mound.

Zack Sittler, another senior, will probably be the number two starter, after a 2-2 record last year with 24 strikeouts in 26 innings. Sittler, who also plays second base, hit .393 a year ago.

Another senior, Brian Segit, also had a solid season for Cooperstown last spring, hitting .361 while recording eight outfield assists from his centerfield position.

Tyler Combs, southpaw Jim Fort, Doug Kline and Mac Curran will all see time on the mound as well.

The Redskins were scheduled to begin the season Monday at Milford for a non-league contest, but all games are tentative due to the late snow cover. Cooperstown is also scheduled to play at Morrisville on April 4 and home to Little Falls on April 4.

``To be successful this season we need to have strong pitching in a league that features solid defenses and pitching,’’ Miosek said. ``I’d like to get early leads on teams and make them to play catch-up.’’