It seems like the Westport High baseball team, no matter how depleted graduation leaves the Wildcats every season, reloads at the start of each new campaign.

In 2005, the Cats must contend with the loss of six starters off a squad that returned to the Division Three South Sectional playoffs a year ago and lost to Hull in the quarterfinals.

"After losing Kyle Fernandes and Dave Bird two years ago and losing six starters and one substitute from last year our goals remain the same; be the (Mayflower) league champion and win the state tournament," said Westport coach Glenn Lincoln.

Lincoln has reason for optimism as the new season gets underway this week.

Josh Houde, Reid Burns and Mike Noonan return to the starting lineup. Scott Borges is back off a breakout effort on the hill a year ago. Tyler White returns after seeing time at third base. And Mike Texeira is back off a bench role last season.

Houde, a senior, is a pitcher-first baseman. The right-hander likely resumes his slot as Westport's clean-up hitter. Burns, a junior, slides over to shortstop after two years at second base. The righty also will pitch. Noonan, another junior begins his second season as the Cats' backstop.

Borges, a junior, right-hander, emerged as a solid hurler for Westport last year. He picked up the win in the Cats' playoff triumph. White, a sophomore, takes over third full time. Texeira, a senior, seems headed for a starting role in the outfield.

Sophomore Dan Noonan joins varsity and is slated to start in the outfield. He is a pitcher as well.

"We know we have a lot of work ahead of us," said Lincoln. "But just like our boys' and girls' basketball teams showed us, good effort and teamwork have big rewards."

Lincoln coached the WHS girls' cagers to a runner-up spot in the Division Four South Sectional over the winter. Several members of the baseball team were also on the Cats' boys' basketball squad that won the South Sectional and reached the state final.

Junior Jon Green joins varsity on the mound. Junior Josh Carvalho, a transfer from Dartmouth who showed well for the Cats on the soccer field in the fall, may pitch and play second. Freshman Craig Clarkson is another promising thrower.

Seniors Dave Smyka and John Schroeder, sophomore Chris Borges and junior Jeff Fernandes complete the newcomers to the team.

In league play, Westport should once again be at the forefront of the Mayflower chase.

"Diman, Tri-County and Blue Hills in the Mayflower, along with a challenging non-league schedule will the season very interesting," said Lincoln.

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Westport High

Mayflower League, Division Three-South states

2005 schedule

All games start at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

April

8: at Blue Hills; 12: at Diman; 14: at Tri-County; 15: Fairhaven; 26: Bristol-Plymouth; 29: Holbrook; 30: at Mashpee, noon

May

2: West Bridgewater; 4: at Southeastern; 6: Blue Hills; 9: Diman; 11: Tri-County; 13; at Bishop Connolly; 16: at Bristol-Plymouth; 18: Holbrook; 20: Bishop Connolly; 23: at West Bridgewater; 25: Mashpee

2004 notes

Record: 15-7

Playoffs: def. Maimonides, 7-0, in first round; lost to Hull, 9-4 in quarterfinals