ns, but for the most part, the Wisconsin Dells Legion Post 187 baseball team will pick up right where a successful Wisconsin Dells High School varsity squad left off.

On the bad news side, Billy Percival who exploded onto the scene alongside his cousin Alex Yacko this spring said he is planning to return to Chicago for the summer months but on the plus side, the lineup will be bolstered with the addition of Dillon Hess and Jordan Holverson, both a year out of high school but still age-eligible to play on the Legion team.

Asked if most of the high school players would be out at a recent team meeting, head coach Paul Hess said. "I sure hope so, they've got a lot of good ball players."

Hess said the players came a long way this spring and he looks forward to continuing that improvement.

"They did well. You can't complain at all," with a 14-12 record the spring baseball team brings into the summer campaign.

Hess expects the two age-eligible players will be leaders on the team and fill a big role, Hess having been a primary pitcher for the team while Holverson bats leadoff and was an anchor in the outfield.

Like the high school team, the Legion squad has put together a schedule that includes more games and tougher competition.

Weather permitting, the Legionaires will battle through 25 contests, giving the high schoolers a resume of more than 50 games before Regionals at a site still to be determined July 22-25.

"We've got more this year," said Hess. "We've got a tournament up in Rapids that will be a Friday night, Saturday, Sunday. It will be a good one and in a nice stadium from what I understand."

That tournament which runs July 10-12 will see the locals play the host Rapids team along with Nekoosa, Beloit and Waushara in a busy weekend and an incredibly busy stretch that sees the team play 10 games in eight days from July 9-17, leading up to what should be a much anticipated week off before Regionals.

While the team will no doubt be competitive and

in every contest, Hess is not putting any pressure on anybody.

"I suppose our goal would be to make sure we have enough players to play every game," said Hess, only halfway joking, well aware of the work situation for teenagers in town.

The Legion began the campaign with the first of five straight road games at Baraboo last night, then travel to Nekoosa for a doubleheader today.

First home game will be June 24 when SCC Conference champion Mauston comes to town for a pair.