Despite having such a young team this season, Red Level baseball coach Tony Ingram said his team’s expectations are as “high as they ever are.”

“We don’t lower our expectations,” he said. “They’re good kids. They work hard, and we’re going at it like we always do.”

The Tigers will begin their season today when they will host Butler County Magnet School at 4:30 p.m.

Red Level has four returning starters this season with Troy Nolen, Nathan Johns, Michael Norman and Nick Nolen.

Troy Nolen will play in the middle infield position and will also be the No. 1 pitcher; Johns, a senior, will be at right field; Norman, another senior, will be at third base; and Nick Nolen will be at catcher and first base.

Ingram said there are positions still open on the field, but a decision on who will play where will be determined later on in the season.

“We usually know who’s playing where,” he said. “We start (today), and we’ll move kids in and out.”

Ingram said his approach to this season will be the same as it always is.

“I’m pretty much set in my ways,” Ingram said. “We’re just going to play baseball, which is pretty much the way you’re supposed to play it. We’re going to do the little things right and make all the plays we make and the ones you’re not.”

This season, Red Level will be in Class 2A, Area 1 again with Excel, Flomaton and Mobile Christian.

“We’re playing in a very tough area,” Ingram said.

As far as goals are concerned, Ingram said his team’s goals are the same every year.

“I think everybody’s goal is to play for a championship,” he said. “I think you’ve got to have that mind set coming in and if not, then there is no point in playing the game.”

Ingram said the even though practice sessions have been few already, it’s gone “well.”

“Considering the weather, it’s gone well,” he said. “These kids have worked hard. We’ve dealt with the rain, snow and freezing temperatures. The weather for high school baseball at the start is far from perfect.”