Four regular-season wins and a loss in the opening round of last year's postseason tournament did not leave expectations very high for the 2010 Groveport-Madison baseball team.

Fortunately for the Cruisers, a new baseball coach won't let those expectations get in the way of turning around the team.

"We're going to surprise a lot of schools who think Groveport is an easy victory," Dick Noble said. "I'm sorry, but we're going to beat them."

Noble brings 32 years of assistant coaching experience with him, 25 at Groveport and six with Pickerington Central. However, experience isn't the only thing that made him a good choice for the role. Noble also brings a great amount of enthusiasm.

"I finally get my dream job," he said. "I've been waiting to be the (head Groveport) varsity baseball coach for 32 years. I finally convinced them to take a chance on me and they have. Hopefully I don't let them down."

Given that a coaching change can sometimes disrupt a team, Noble said his players have had minimal problems with the transition.

"I'm coming in unproven," he said. "But they've already bought into the belief that we can beat teams. They've bought into the idea they need to execute."

The coach has been impressed with the attitude so far.

"Every day I try to teach them something new and they grasp it and they work at it," Noble said. "We have a very good work ethic here."

Starting in the outfield will be senior Michael Templeton at left. Senior Dylan Frank and junior Rich Vance will return to their same roles as last season at center and right, respectively.

Sophomore Andrew Downing will start at first base. Junior Justin Rodgers covers second. Seniors Shane Miller and Casey Corbett round out the infield positions at third and shortstop.

Junior Travis Brumfield and sophomore Luke Dorian will sit behind the plate.

"The kids I chose are good, quality kids," Noble said. "They're good in school, their grades are up, they're not in trouble, they show respect and they're teachable."

Missing from the lineup is all-league pitcher Jarod Meyer, who graduated.

"We're going to miss him," Noble said. Filling in at Meyer's role will be Miller and Corbett. Sophomore Lukas Scurlock will also take the mound.

"One of my better pitchers is a 10th-grader," the coach said. "Lukas is competing for the No. 1 job right now against the seniors."

With not a lot of depth at the utility positions, Noble will look to his underclassmen to step in when Miller or Corbett are pitching.

"We have to shuffle around a lot," he said. "Younger kids are going to fill those roles. I have some sophomores that are going to be playing a lot of varsity."

The new coach knows exactly what it will take for the team to succeed this season.

"Basically, it's old-school baseball," he said. "Good pitching, good defense, good hitting. We're going to be playing some small ball this year. We're going to try and make things happen."

Making a turnaround of the team's fortunes even more daunting is Groveport's place in the Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division. The OCC-Ohio is home to 2009 state runner-up Pickerington North, 2009 district champ Gahanna-Lincoln (who lost to Pick North in the regionals) and 2009 district runner-up Pickerington Central (who lost to Gahanna).

Though these three teams seem to have the top spots in the division locked up, Noble isn't fazed.

"I'm very confident that we have the ability to beat some of the best teams," he said.

In fact, the coach is particularly looking forward to Pickerington Central.

"Those guys know me left and right and I know them," he said. "We're going to come right at them."

The Cruisers open their season with a three-game stretch starting Monday, March 29, at Olentangy followed by hosting Westerville Central Tuesday, March 30, and Thomas Worthington Wednesday, March 31.

"We're going to surprise a lot of schools who think Groveport is an easy victory. I'm sorry, but we're going to beat them."