Coach: Mark Biggs (5th season)

Last season: 2-9 in Class A East

Top returners: Kristen Marks (Sr.), Jessica Ladner (Jr.), Elizabeth Smead (Sr.), Amber Allen (Sr.), Ali Brunelle (Sr.)

Key newcomers: Katie Schide (So.), Emily Kozma (So.)

Outlook: New courts have helped generate more interest at Gardiner and the number of girls playing is up to 16. The competition will be especially tough in the KVAC south where the tigers play, but overall they should be improved with Marks and Ladner leading the singles players.

Coach’s comment: “Our goal is to make to the playoffs.”

Coach: Jim Palmer (8th season)

Last season: 17-2, lost in Class A semifinals

Top returners: Mike Abbott (Sr., INF-P), Kyle Stilphen (Sr., SS-P), Roland Kennerson (Sr., LF), Mike Lavallee (Sr., P-OF), Donnie Cray (Jr., P-OF), Peter Caradonna (Jr., UTIL), Alex Wheelock (Jr., C), Forrest Chadwick (So., P-INF).

Key newcomers: Nick Maschino (Jr., INF), Tony Plourde (Jr., C-INF), Kory Childs (Sr., OF), D.J. Treptow (Sr., INF), Andrew Bobrowiecki (Jr., P-OF).

Outlook: The Tigers are dropping to Class B this season and will be one of the teams to beat. Led by Stilphen, they return eight players who won 17 games in Class A. They have an experienced pitching staff that will be bolstered by the addition of Chadwick in the rotation.

Coach’s comment: “It still comes down to how hard we want to work. It’s right there for us.”

Coach: Eric Hall

Last season: 7th at KVAC

Top returners: Matt Hopkins (Sr., distance), Evan Kus (Jr., distance), Josh Hallet (Jr., thrower), Patrick Fortier-Brown (Soph., thrower), Colby Fortier-Brown (Soph., thrower), Kyle Hickey (Soph., mid-distance), Isac Cone (Jr., thrower)

Key newcomers: Jared Michaud (Soph., thrower)

Outlook: The Tigers graduated some of their sprinters and their race walker from a year ago. Compounded with a low turnout, and it will be a challenge this season.

Coach’s comment: “We had lower numbers than expected, so we’re looking primarily at throws and mid-distance.”

Coach: Eric Hall

Top returner: Nikole Robbins (Jr., sprinter, jumps)

Outlook: The bad news is that just seven girls came out for track this season. The good news is that the number actually went up from a year ago. Robbins will do a little of everything for Hall. Key newcomers: Grace Usher (Jr., UT), Katlyn Morissette (So., UT), Cassie Snell (Fr., P-IF), Molly Snell (Fr., C-IF), Jillian Philbrook (Fr., P), Kayla Edwards (Fr., UT), Shawna Moulton (Fr., UT)

Outlook: The Tigers have seven starters back, giving them a solid base defensively and offensively. They also have a strong freshman class. The pitching is untested at the varsity level, however. Key newcomers: Josh Fitzgerald (Sr., M), Jake Wright (Jr.,M), Sam Wenckus (Jr. M/D), Kory Peckham (So., A) Jason Ledoux (So., M), Nick Kozma (So., D), Caleb Ross (Jr., G).

Outlook: Gardiner is looking to bond as a team and to peak at the right time this year. The Tigers have a fair amount of players that saw action but not a lot of steady game in, game out playing time. Gardiner will need to nurture and grow as the season progresses. Coach Johnson is calling on the seniors to lead this team on and off the field.

Coach's comment: "This could be a fun team to watch. We need the leaders to lead, the role players to do their jobs and our team will do just fine in a very competitive KVAC Class B ."