Seeing the team that defeated them in the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals go on and win the WPIAL title and then seeing the team that denied them a trip to the PIAA playoffs go on and win the PIAA title did not necessarily give the Plum Mustangs team any solace last season.

"It didn't soften the blow at all," Plum coach Carl Vollmer said. "We felt like we were as good as anyone and that we were playing at a very high level.

"In baseball when you have two teams as talented as us and Peters [Township] or us and Seneca [Valley], it really comes down to the little things and we didn't execute as well as they did and it cost us.

"It was tough. Our expectations and our goals grew throughout the season and we felt as though at the end of the year we were playing as well as anyone."

Plum captured the Section 4-AAAA title last year going 11-1 in the section and 17-1-1 overall in the regular season. The Mustangs defeated North Allegheny in the WPIAL quarterfinals before losing to Peters Township, 5-3, in the WPIAL semifinals and to Seneca Valley, 6-5, in the third-place consolation game for a chance to move onto the PIAA tournament.

Peters Township went on to win the WPIAL crown and Seneca Valley captured the PIAA title.

The Mustangs are expected to be in contention again with seven starters back, including a member of last season's Post-Gazette All-Area Baseball Team, shortstop-pitcher Scott McGough.

McGough has started since his freshman year. On the mound last year he averaged a strikeout an inning and did not allow an earned run in 15 innings. At the plate, he hit .413 and scored 27 runs while stealing 16 bases.

"Obviously we think he is one of the best players in the state and he is going to play a key role in our success," Vollmer said of McGough who has committed to the University of Oregon to play baseball.

"He is a guy that is going to set the tone for our offense. Defensively, it's a very talented year in the WPIAL in terms of shortstops, but I think Scott is right there with any of them. On the mound he has the ability to shut the opposing team down."

Plum will have to overcome losing two pitchers from last season's all-section team. Ryan Webb graduated and senior Troy Besterci injured a shoulder in the fall and will miss the season.

"We lost quite a bit of pitching," Vollmer said. "That's not to say that we don't have pitching, but we lost a lot of innings.

"We had a lot of depth last season, but a lot of the guys who graduated played key roles whether they were starters or reserves. This year it is yet to be determined how the younger guys are going to fill those roles left behind."

Even with the pitching losses, Plum enters the season as the favorite in Section 4-AAAA. Out of the seven all-section players who were underclassmen last year, four played for Plum.

Catcher Anthony DeFabio and first basemen Clint White along with McGough and Besterci were named to the team last season.

"DeFabio and White both of them had opportunities last year and did some very good things," Vollmer said.

"Coming back for their senior year, this is something they have worked toward for a long time and they are some of the best players around at their respective positions."

Senior pitcher David Weifenbaugh and senior infielders Jim Carr and Kyle Simmons also return as starters.

Plum opened the season Tuesday against Seneca Valley and dropped a 4-1 decision. The Mustangs opened the season by knocking off the Raiders, 1-0, last year, before leaving for Florida. Plum will travel Florida again this year.

"It helps a lot to get down to Florida," McGough said. "Up here in Pittsburgh with the weather, you never know if you can get out on the field. Down there we get in two practices a day and face different teams. There is a lot of competition and it gives everyone a chance to work out the bugs."

Plum left yesterday for Tampa and is scheduled to play four games and a scrimmage. Vollmer hopes the Florida trip will sort out any remaining position battles.

Junior infielder Richard Navari is one player battling for a spot and Vollmer expects him to contribute this season.