With numerous returning players, the Wellsville-Middletown baseball team hopes to get back to its winning ways this spring.

Last year, the Tigers finished 0-16, their first winless season since 2013. W-M scored just 12 runs and was held scoreless in its first four games before finally getting on the scoreboard in a contest against North Callaway.

Also last year, the Tigers had several players who participated in baseball for the first time, such as sophomores Shane Joles, Gage Nichols, Evan Bryson, Cameron Pittker, Willard Shireman and Jimmie Mitchell and senior Cooper Henderson. This spring, all of them return as well as seniors Gage Marshall, Wyatt Moore, Brennan Cash, Haskell Davis and Justin Beaubout and juniors Isaac Todd and Logan Davis.

The Tigers have another large group of freshmen this spring. They have six first-year players after having seven last year. Garrett Poage, Royce Wilkinson, Brandon Murphy, Colton Gilbert, Chandler Parker and Olyn Davis make up the freshman class.

Alex Thull returns for his third season as W-M coach. The Tigers finished 9-9 in Thull’s first year in 2023.

W-M begins its season at 5 p.m. on March 24 against Community R-6 at home. Last year, the Tigers lost to the Trojans in their season opener and in a Class 1, District 9 quarterfinal game.

W-M has nine home games this season. It will host its senior day game on May 1 against Bowling Green.

The Tigers start their Eastern Missouri Conference season on March 28 with a road game against Clopton.