As the weather grows warmer and days longer, the Spartans prepare to return to the diamond for the upcoming baseball season.

Sumner finished last season with a near-perfect 23-2 record.

The Spartans brought home both the South Puget Sound League 2A championship title as well as winning the West Central District championship.

It was the first time in school history that the Spartans’ won the West Central District.

The season ended in the quarterfinals of the state tournament with a 1-0 loss to Anacortes.

The post season this year looks to be a familiar place for the Spartans, coach Casey Adcox said “we expect to be successful.”

He added, the Spartans have respect for its opponents and for the challenge of playing in the 3A division this season but “we have many capable young men who have high level baseball experience.”

Adcox is in his 15th year of coaching since his playing days at Central Washington University ended and he enters his eighth season with the Spartans.

He coached Sumner from 2003-2005 and returned in 2010.

A difference spectators will see on the field is the absence of six graduated players from last year.

Adcox said all six players went on to play baseball at the collegiate level.

Despite the impact the loss of those six will cause Sumner, Adcox said seven players are returning who received all-league honors last season.

Those returning for Sumner are seniors Johnny Staley, Gage Whitehead, Chase Torgison and juniors Collin Wolf, Noah Massey, Josiah Fidecaro and Nathan Harrell.

For the Spartans, Adcox said the position that holds the most notable question mark is on the mound.

Sumner graduated star pitchers, Christian Parsons and Logan Christensen.

Adcox said filling one of the pitching holes will be Staley.

Staley has two prior seasons of varsity pitching and “has always been a great pitcher for us,” Adcox said.

A prospect to fill the second pitching hole is senior Joey Muscarnera.

“(He) has shown great growth in the off season,” he said.

The 2014-2015 season starts Friday with a home game scheduled for 4 p.m. against Fife.

In preparation for the first game of the season, Adcox said the Spartans have been fortunate with this weather and have been able to get some game reps under its belt.

“I feel we are a bit ahead of schedule,” he said.

And when it comes to facing Fife and one of the area’s top pitchers, Tanner Knapp, Adcox said “we are looking forward to that challenge to help prepare us for coming league games.”

This year, the Spartans join its rival, Bonney Lake Panthers, in the SPSL 3A division.

The rival games are scheduled for the final two games of the season, May 4 and May 5.

The approach in preparing to face the Panthers is different for Sumner this year, Adcox said.

“The fact that they are league games now and (will) dictate postseason seeding, change the way you approach them,” he said. “It’s obviously always been a game important to the players for obvious reasons but adding postseason ‘jockeying’ elements gives it even more.”

A new development this season for the Spartans is happening with the junior varsity team.

Chris Snelling, a former Mariner and six year major league veteran with a World Series ring, will be the new head coach.

Snelling is entering his fifth year with the Spartans, Adcox said.

He works with in the Sumner School District maintenance department.

“He is an all around awesome guy,” Adcox said. “(And he is a) phenomenal resource for the kids.”

Reach Sarah Wehmann at swehmann@courierherald.com or 360-825-2555 ext. 5060. Follow her on Twitter @swehmann_SOUND for more news, pictures and local events.