In total, the Indians lost nearly 80% of their production at the plate due to the loss of Mikey Sipps .. the NTWSR Offensive Player of the Year .. McGwire Painter .. the NTWSR Pitcher of the Year .. first-team All-Tioga County player Tucker St. Peter, second-teamer and Comeback Player of the Year Kade Sottolano and starter Glenn Barnes. An injury sustained during basketball season will sideline returning junior Carter Ackley as well.

The Indians will take an even bigger hit on the mound, where they lose 95% of innings pitched a season ago and all 11 earned wins.

“We lost a lot of great players last season,” says Head Coach Jamie St. Peter, “and those players are going to be hard to replace, but I feel confident that the players coming back will do a great job filling the void.”

St. Peter has a large group to choose from when filling out his lineup card, and points to a pack of juniors that he feels are ready to contribute right away in Jordan Vargeson, Caden Cole, Coen Kemp, Nick West and Larson Swimley.

Vargeson had 10 hits and scored 12 runs with four doubles last season, while West had eight hits, seven RBI and nine runs scored and Swimley hit .308 in limited plate appearances.

Vargeson also threw seven innings for the Indians last season .. the only innings returning for CV.

Due to a large number of young players, Coach Peter says it is yet to be determined who of them will be looked at to contribute right away, but that the Indians’ goals remain the same as they have through a pair of successful seasons with experienced players.

“Our goal is to make Districts,” St. Peter says. “And to be competitive in them.”

Cowanesque Valley has a scrimmage scheduled at home on Monday with Northern Potter, followed by a game with Galeton at home on Wednesday.