“I’ve got kids out there with a lot of heart, I’ve got kids out there who are ambitious, I’ve got great kids out on that ball field who are going to give 100 percent, and that is all you can ask out of any kid.”

The Wolves finished last season 5-8, and are returning 16 players from last year’s squad. Wolbert believes his team is focused on the job at hand.

“One thing I can say is we don’t have any inner-squad animosity, we don’t have any inner-squad haggling, we don’t have any inner-squad problems,” said Wolbert. “If they do have (issues), they don’t take them out on the ball field.”

North Clarion returns Rob Wielock behind the plate. Wielock was the starting catcher for the Wolves last season as well.

“He’s got a lot of experience,” said Wolbert. “He’ a heads-up catcher; he knows the game well.”

Wielock will also see time pitching this season after playing primarily behind the dish in 2007.

The other primary member of the Wolves battery will be Jordan Ochs. Ochs, a senior, was North Clarion’s number one starter on the hill in 2007 as well.

“Jordan Ochs is top of the line,” said Wolbert. “(He’s) a smart pitcher with a lot of ability.”

Rounding out the Wolves infield will be junior Adam Ochs starting at shortstop. Bryan Burkhardt will resume his role at third base while Jared Bruce will be situated at second and Kyle Gilbert most likely will be the starting first sacker for North Clarion.

Seniors Chad Wolbert and Willie Deloe will see time in the outfield with the other outfield spot still up in the air.

Coach Wolbert believes his bats will have to come alive in 2008 for North Clarion to be successful.

“We’re coming off a season where we (batted) around .250,” said Wolbert. “Of course as with any baseball team, the bats are going to be crucial.

“High school baseball is a sport where errors are a part of the game. A team has to have the bats to rebound from that. A key to any good season is having the bats. You can’t win the games if you don’t score runs, no matter how good your defense is.”

Wolbert feels that if his team goes out and plays its hardest, things will take care of themselves.

“We are going to come into this season with the same attitude we have had in the past,” said Wolbert. “We are going to go out there and instill sportsmanship. We are going to go out there and play ball as best we can. We are going to go out there with a respectful attitude towards the other players and the umpires. We’re going to build some character. We’re going to squeeze a little fun into the game, and that is how our season is going to go, just like every season.

“However she ends up, she ends up.”

Wolbert also doesn’t believe there is some magic formula to having a successful season.

“If I had the key to the season, we wouldn’t be five and eight, we would be eight and five,” said Wolbert. “The key to the season is having the horses.”

The Wolves open their 2008 campaign April 1 at home against Cranberry.