Final L-L League baseball preview for you, as Dave Byrne breaks down Section 4:

New coach. New home. New result.

New was the key word for the 2007 baseball season at Lancaster Mennonite, where head coach Jim Langley, in his first year at the helm, took the Blazers to their first Section 4 title after several years of competing in Section 3.

So what’s new for this season?

Well, the Blazers, once again, have a new coach. Former assistant Bryant Wells takes the reins from Langley.

Wells played for Pequea Valley while Langley was an assistant there, and came aboard at Mennonite with Langley last year.

He inherits a team that is young, yes, but has more than enough experience to lap an equally young Section 4.

The Blazers’ strength is on the mound, where junior Andrew Martin returns after going 5-0 with a 1.09 earned run average last season.

He is backed by junior Andrew Horning and newcomer Jon Lapp, a sophomore penciled in as the No. 3 starter.

When not pitching, Martin (.313 with one home run) will anchor the infield at second base, joining keystone partner shortstop Jordan Smucker, who hit .328 last year.

Catcher Dave Adams (.429) and Horning (.421), who doubles as a first baseman, round out the top hitters for the Blazers.

“We are young with only one senior,” said Wells, who is also concerned about the Blazers’ less than blazing speed on the basepaths. Playing small ball and moving runners is a must, he said.

Here is a look at Section 4 in the possible order of finish.

Lancaster Mennonite
COACH: Bryant Wells (first season).
2007 RECORD: 15-6 overall,14-2 Section 4, section champ.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Ben Adams, 1B-P; D.J. Weaver, P-3B; Chris Walters, P-RF; Zack Yoder, P-2B; Darrin Miller, OF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Jordan Smucker, jr., SS; Dave Adams, jr., C (Section 4 All-Star); Andrew Martin, jr., P-2B (Section 4 All-Star); Justin Hershey, sr., LF; Andrew Horning, jr., P-1B (Section 4 All-Star).
OUTLOOK: The Blazers might not go unbeaten in the section like last season, but should gather enough wins to successfully defend their section title.

Lancaster Catholic
COACH: Mike Davis (first season).
2007 RECORD: 13-10 overall, 11-5 Section 4, District 3 Double-A semifinalist.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Pat Abel, 2B-P; Matt Balasavage, 1B; Nick Downey, P-OF; Kevin Feldman, SS.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Ryan Clark, jr. C; Tom Eck, sr., 3B; Jeff Helm, sr., P (Section 4 All-Star); Travis Jankowski, jr., OF; Jon Markel, sr., OF (Section 4 All-Star); Mark Long, sr., OF; Steve Darrenkamp, jr., P; Kevin Gibbons, sr., SS; Kevin Staskel, sr., 2B; Tim Jones, jr., P-1B.
OUTLOOK: Despite the loss of Abel, Balasavage, Downey and Feldman, the Crusaders have a good nucleus of young players to build upon.

Pequea Valley
COACH: Guy Miller (fifth season).
2007 RECORD: 5-14 overall, 4-12 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Kyle Diem, C; Dwayne Blank, OF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Shane Yoder, sr., P-1B (Section 4 All-Star); Cody Clark, sr., P-INF; Brandon Hoover, sr., P-INF; Andrew Reiter, sr., SS (Section 4 All-Star); Brock Suter, sr., C; Ryan Aleardi, sr., OF; Andrew Babetski, sr., OF.
OUTLOOK: If the Braves can avoid struggling early, they will be a factor in the race.

Annville-Cleona
COACH: Mike Capriotti (27th season).
2007 RECORD: 9-7 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Jordan Wenger, P-SS; Curt Reigle, C; Cody Hostetter, 3B; Eric Cassel, OF; Travis Good, OF; Pat Brennan, OF; Ethan Buffenmyer, OF-INF-P; Ronnie Esposito, P-1B; Alex Nelson, OF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Trey Sobeich, sr., 2B-P; Tyler Hennings, sr., SS-P.
OUTLOOK: Capriotti will have to find replacements for graduation losses from a group that made back-to-back deep runs in the district playoffs.

Columbia
COACH: Stephen Robinson (10th season).
2007 RECORD: 4-14 ovearll, 4-12 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: David Schoenly, OF; David Perales OF (transfer to Lancaster Catholic)
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Ben Guiles, sr., SS-OF (Section 4 All-Star); Donny Thompson, sr., C-P; Ryan Hess, sr., P; Michael Seibert, sr., CF (Section 4 All-Star); Jeff Sentz, sr., 3B; Andrew Moore, sr., 1B (Section 4 All-Star); Brandon Brooks, sr., OF; Brandon Arnold, so., 2B; Jimmy Lee, sr., P.
OUTLOOK: There are a number of athletes here that led the Crimson Tide to glory this year in football and basketball — Guiles and Seibert in particular. Can those experiences transfer to the diamond?

Lebanon Catholic
COACH: Ryan O’Donnell (second season).
2007 RECORD: 3-14 overall, 2-14 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Matt Snyder, P-2B; Pete Zoumas, DH; Elliot Keller, SS; Franky Arnold, OF.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: John Pastal, sr., P-CF; Jarred Murray, sr., RF; Phil Zimmerman, P-C; John White, 1B; Anthony Carpenter, LF; A.J. Groy, LF; Dominick Pavone, 2B.
OUTLOOK: The Beavers are deep on the mound, but that’s only half the battle. They have to find a way to score some runs.