The Bears are back between the baseball lines and ready for another season.

Coach Russ Hayden is retuning for his 17th year and he has a lineup ready to compete for the top spot in the 4A South Puget Sound League.

Tahoma made the first round of the state show last year, and the team could well make another playoff run.

Returning to the hill for the Bears will be senior pitcher Chris Marangon.

The 2008 league MVP Kyle Conwell, a senior, will be driving in runs at the plate. Conwell was an All-Area and All-Team pick last year.

Senior pitcher Thomas Hammett, junior Jerad Casper, second base, and Zack Aaker, a senior third baseman, will be back on the field. All three earned first-team honors last year.

Other returning players to watch are catcher Cory Ferguson, a senior, shortstop Taylor Smart, a junior and outfielder Justin Cloud, also a junior.

“We have pretty good bats,” Hayden said. “I’m a little concerned about our depth in pitching.”

The Bears were on the road March 13 and beat the Sumner Spartans 7-1 in a non-league game.

Marangon started on the mound and earned the win. Sumner’s Tanner Walker picked up the loss.

Tahoma is scheduled to host Auburn Riverside at home Friday at 4 p.m. in the first league action of the year.