RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Cordova Lancers are swinging for the fences this spring. 

The Lancers (1-2 overall at press time) began their preseason slate on Feb. 13 with a narrow 3-2 loss at Ponderosa but followed it up a day later with an impressive 10-8 win at Destiny Christian Academy. Despite a 3-0 loss at Vista Del Lago on Feb. 21, the team feels good about the group the have with Metro League play beginning this week on Feb. 25, when they will have begun a home-and-home split against McClatchy. The Lancers home opener is Friday, Feb. 27 at 3:30 p.m. when they host the Lions at Peterson Field. 

“I’m feeling good,” Lancers’ head coach Scott Ahlstrom said when asked about his feelings on this years’ group. “Honestly, I like where we are. We’re better than last year, and we didn’t lose anybody except one senior. We’re better than last year.”

Sophomore Nate Jones gets a base hit against Destiny Christian Academy. Photo by Rick Sloan

This year, the Lancers figure to be yet again led by the stellar all-around play of senior pitcher/infielder Levi Nyberg. Nyberg, who earned First Team All-Metro League honors last spring as well as the Lancers’ Player of the Year award, should lead the team in multiple statistical categories on the mound, in the field of play and at the plate. According to Ahlstrom, Nyberg’s play is the least of his concerns.

“It’s always the same with him,” Ahlstrom said. “He’s going to go out and work hard. I don’t have to worry about him. He’s going to give me everything he has in every game and every practice. He makes other guys go, and I think there’s going to be other guys on the team more important than him because I already know what I’m getting out of him. Now it’s about if we can fill in those pieces around him that are going to help him out.”

The Lancers figure to have a host of big-time contributors this season. Sophomore pitcher Nate Jones, junior infielder Bro Ahlstrom, junior infielder Gabriel Bargas, junior pitcher Gage Cordova, junior outfielder Nathan Tran, senior first baseman Alphonso Maya, junior catcher Noah Oxley and senior utility player Chase Morton are all being relied upon to play key roles in the Lancers' success this season.

Sophomore Nate Jones comes in for relief against Destiny Christian Academy. Photo by Rick Sloan

Morton, who is a transfer from Folsom High, figures to be eligible to play within the next month in compliance with the CIF transfer rules. Additionally, sophomore catcher/infielder Sawyer Nyberg (younger brother of Levi Nyberg) is someone Ahlstrom named as a player he wants to see take the next step this season.

The Lancers enter this season coming off a nail-biting loss at Armijo in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Division II play-in game last spring, and have their sights set on returning to the postseason and making some noise according to their coach. 

“Like always we want to make the playoffs,” Ahlstrom said when asked about the teams’ goals this season. “I’d like to have a top-three finish in league this year. We got to the point last year where we snuck into the playoffs and had a game won, we just coughed it up at the end. So again, we want to make the playoffs, finish top-three in league and get that playoff win.”

Head coach Scott Ahlstrom talks to his squad after the victory against Destiny Christian Academy. Photo by Rick Sloan