Washington & Jefferson College baseball coach Jeff Mountain will be hard pressed to find another recruiting class that can match his first.

Mountian took over the W&J program in 2003 and the Presidents posted a 6-26 record in his first season.

"We cleaned house after that season and brought in 27 recruits," said Mountain. "They made up most of our team that season; we had only seven other players."

Inexperience was obviously a concern with the 2004 squad. But it didn't show on the field, as his freshman-dominated Presidents posted a 21-16 record.

"It was obvious from the first day of practice that this was a special group of kids," said Mountain.

Nine of those players have become the nucleus of the best recruiting class in the history of the program. The 2005 squad captured the Presidents' Athletic Conference title and set a school record for victories with its 32-15 finish. But the record didn't last long. Last year's squad eclipsed it with a 34-13 mark. It also captured its second straight PAC title.

"They are a great group of kids who have worked very hard to get where they are today," said Mountain. "They knew from Day 1 that they had a chance to start and took advantage of the situation. All nine are also good students. You can't ask for much more than that."

Mountain is hoping for more this season. The Presidents' goal is to become the first team in school history to qualify for the NCAA Division III tournament.

"We fell short of a bid the past two years, but did get to host the ECAC [Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference] tournament, which is sort of like basketball's NIT."

The Presidents entered the weekend with an 18-6 record and are closing in on a third consecutive PAC title with an 8-1 record in the conference.

"Our conference will receive an automatic bid [to the NCAA tournament] next year," said Mountain. "We're hoping a third consecutive conference title will get us a berth this year, but defending our PAC title will not be easy with Thomas More on our heels."

Thomas More is actually ahead of W&J in the PAC standings with a 10-2 mark, which gives the Saints a slim half-game lead. But the Presidents have played three fewer conference games and have a better winning percentage.

"I've been fortunate to have the same infield, the same catcher, and three members of our rotation for four years," said Mountain. "In fact, Shaun Pfeil and Nick Fiorilli have started every game."

Pfeil is a third baseman from Ohio's Perkins High, while Fiorilli is a shortstop from Ohio's Trinity High. Both have made 155 consecutive starts since making their varsity debuts. Pfeil is a two-time first-team All-PAC selection who is hitting .370 with six doubles and 21 runs batted in. Fiorilli, a two-time team captain, is hitting .444 with three home runs, 16 RBIs.

Pfeil and Fiorilli are joined in the infield by second baseman Chris Varacallo and the platoon at first base of Sam Mann and Ron Mitko. Varacallo, a graduate of DuBois High School, is a three-time All-PAC player, twice on the second team and once on the first team. He is hitting .395 with two home runs and 20 RBIs. He has made 148 starts.

Mann, a three-time first-team All-PAC selection from Ohio's Howland High, has also made 148 starts, splitting time at pitcher and first base. He owns most of W&J's pitching records, including 22 career victories. This season, he has a 4-2 record with a 2.68 earned run average. Mann also leads the team with a .481 average and 27 RBIs.

Mitko, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson, has made 125 starts, splitting time at first base, outfield and in the bullpen. He has 11 career saves and is 2-0 this year with two saves and a 1.08 ERA in seven appearances. He is hitting .241.

Mann is joined in the Presidents' rotation by South Allegheny graduate Mike Trumpower and Chartiers Valley grad John Astfalk. Trumpower has an 18-6 career record, while Astfalk has a 17-5 career mark.

"Sam [Mann] has been our ace for four years," said Mountain. "Mike [Trumpower] was our best pitcher his sophomore year, but arm surgery ended his junior year midway through the season. "

The other two seniors are Warren Stowe, a catcher from Ohio's Reynoldsburg High, and Nate Hopkins, an outfielder from Hempfield. Stowe, a two-time second team All-PAC selection, has made 114 starts in his career and has thrown out 45 percent of the runners who have attempted to steal on him. He is batting .310. Hopkins has made 57 starts during his career and is hitting .286 this season.

"It's tough to find playing time for our underclassmen with such a talented senior class," said Mountain. "But we do have some underclassmen who have made significant contributions."

Mountain is referring to outfielders Justin Benson, Matt Pellis and Ryan Gregg, and pitchers Ian Poole and Dan Vietmeier.

Benson, a junior from Chartiers-Houston, is hitting .338 as the leadoff hitter. Pellis, a junior from Plum, is hitting .308 and leads the team with 13 stolen bases. Gregg, a junior from Baldwin, is hitting .362.

Poole, a sophomore from Ohio's Fairview High, earned first-team All-PAC honors last season. This season, he has a 4-0 record and a 2.37 ERA. Vietmeier, a sophomore from Montour, is 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA.

With W&J and Thomas More so close in the PAC standings, it could come down to their final two games against each other on May 5-6. The PAC tournament will begin May 10, with the top four teams earning berths.