Coach Al Carstens and the Maine West baseball team open their season on April 5 when they travel to Oak Park for a non-conference game.

In their first year as Central Suburban Conference contenders, the diamondmen placed fourth with a 9-9 record. This year things appear brighter although the team has only three returning lettermen.

Handling the chores at the catching and first base positions will be John Salerno '69. Jim Kulik '70 will be playing the outfield while Dave Winn '69 will probably play both the infield and the outfield.

With three returning lettermen the Warriors have many spots to fill before the opening game with Oak Park. Coach Carstens' crew began practice almost four weeks ago to determine which of the 33 boys will make the team.

The Warriors will play four non-conference games against Oak Park, Morton Grove, Prospect, and Evanston before they play Maine South for their first conference match on April 14.

The Warrior tennis team, headed by Coach Roger King, will begin their new season with a tough team from Niles East.

This year the racketmen boast five returning lettermen including two juniors. The seniors include Bill Ritchie, Tom Tyler, and Drake Mertes. Jack Williams and Dave Keehn will be playing first doubles and are the returning juniors.

At the moment there is no number one singles man on the team according to Coach King. "Last year we lost all three of our best singles men in Williams, Caddy, and Baker; so the spot is open this year."

Coach King emphasized the point that the Central Suburban Conference is the toughest conference in the state.

"In the past three years we had lost only three meets, but last year we lost four.