The Clinton Maroons are hoping the experience will help them return to a Regional Championship as they get set to open the 2025 spring baseball season this afternoon.

The Maroons had a banner year in 2024 with an appearance in a Class 2A Regional Championship in Monticello. Coach Nate Ennis says it's a unique opportunity with seven of its nine starters from last year's team back this year.

Unfortunately for Coach Ennis, the injury bug is biting early. Last year, the Maroons were pleased to see a trio of sophomores make huge progress and with those kids returning, he feels they should have good experience at the top of the pitching staff.

For Coach Ennis, pitching was very strong last year but sometimes the offense was not there. He hopes to see improvement this year.

The Maroons have been able to practice outdoors nearly every day during the first two weeks of the spring season. The JV baseball field will host the varsity for the first several weeks of the season as the varsity field gets turf installed.

The second-year coach points out that numbers in the program are up this year thanks to a big freshman class. He hopes to see a few of those athletes contribute at the varsity level this year.