2017 Needles Baseball Capsule

Head coach: Ken Parker, 10th season

2016 record: 17-8 (14-2 Division III Southern, second)

Returning lettermen (starters): Eleven (seven)

Top players: C Dylan Hetrick (Sr.), SS/P Reid Shaver (Sr.), OF Jayden Yeager (Jr.), OF Dillon Darrow (Jr.), IF Ezra Ponce (Jr.), 1B Alex Magana (Jr.), OF Ryan Dunn (Jr.), UTL Trey Tsosie (Jr.)

Outlook: After a strong regular season, the Mustangs’ postseason was cut short, but it has given this year’s squad motivation.

“The Mustangs are looking to rebound from a disappointing elimination in the 2016 playoffs,” Parker said. “We return a core group of juniors with impact seniors to focus on winning. We have a good freshman class entering and hope for more young talent to round out the team.

“We have expectations of making the state tournament.”