The high school baseball season will have a beautiful day to open the 2022 spring campaign as dozens of area high school baseball teams get things going with opening day today.

For the Monticello high school boy's baseball team, it will be about gradually building things up throughout the early season. Coach Chris Jones says they've been fortunate to be outside for a few early season practices but not many so the transition to a full game outside will be a little different.

Coach Jones is very excited about the kids he returns from last year. Monticello lost a trio of very good seniors but he feels they fill in those spots with some kids with a lot of potential.

Coach Jones will be transitioning several of his regulars from the basketball team that just wrapped up a state runner-up finish in the 2A high school postseason in Champaign this past weekend. He explains he'll give those athletes a few days to recharge before they transition to baseball.

Coach Jones is being assisted this season by Ray Wichus, Daniel Peterson, and Matt Crook. Peterson and Crook were players for Jones while Wichus has served on his staff in the past.

The Sages open the season taking on LeRoy at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex where they have artificial turf to play on. Game time this afternoon is 4:30 pm and can be heard on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.