Two of the biggest challenges facing the McKenzie baseball team this season are youth and inexperience, but head coach Mike Bass said he’s already seen some big improvements.

“They made more improvements between the first and second games than I expected,” Bass said. “We found out we could play ball after the first inning of the second game.”

In their season opener, the Tigers lost to Red Level but played tough in a 17-6 loss to Hillcrest in the second game of the season.

“By the middle of the season, we should be a good team,” Bass said. “We didn’t even look like the same team from the first game in the second game.”

Part of the Tigers’ improvement will come as the players get more game experience, Bass said.

“We’re starting two seventh graders and an eighth grader, so it’s going to be a learning process,” Bass said. “But we’re going to get better. We’ve got a good defensive infield.”

The Tigers are in a region with Georgiana and Pleasant Home, and one of their goals is making the playoffs.

“We don’t get into area play until next week,” Bass said. “We’ve got a foundation to build on, and win a few along the way. I’m excited, and the kids are too.”