While pitching, hitting and defense are the three basic elements in which baseball teams are measured, it takes other intangibles — namely hard work and team chemistry — to field a winning ball club.

And if the early-season intersquad sessions and a successful fall-ball campaign are any indication, the Yuba College baseball team looks to be in good shape this year.

According to skipper Tim Gloyd, the 2009 49ers could be the best the school has fielded in a decade. Not since Josh Cook ripped a school-record 75 hits and Dan Boyle stole a state-record 62 bags in 1999 has the Yuba coach felt so confident entering a season, and with good reason.

Although they return just five players from last year's squad, Gloyd retooled his roster with several players from Reno, as well as a host of Yuba City High graduates.

"This is a great group. They just do what you ask them to do and they play hard," said Gloyd, who begins his 12th year at the helm of the program. "We have backup guys that push our starters and the intersquads are a battle. Nobody wants to get beat."

Topping the list of returners is catcher Steven Davis — who had arm surgery and missed the entire season after being named all-BVC the year before — provides the 49ers with leadership, solid defense as well as a big bat.

He is the one player Gloyd said his team cannot afford to lose.

"Davis cannot go down," said Gloyd, who pointed out that his two backup catchers are really pitchers. "We started with six catchers and now we're down to just one."

Woodland High product Adrian Perez will start at shortstop one year after leading the 49ers with a 3.54 earned run average. But with an array of live arms on the roster, Perez will play almost exclusively in the middle infield, Gloyd said.

"We have plenty of pitching and my top six is pretty good," the Yuba skipper said of his starting pitchers. "Right now, we need four a week, but once we start league we'll only need three guys."

Headlining the rotation is Reno's Will Honjas and Micah Dix, Placer High's Maxx Harris, who will also be the team's designated hitter, and recent Yuba City graduates Brandon Pope and Chris Pope.

Former Marysville standout Kendyle Blank will get the nod when the team opens the season Tuesday at American River.

"I've never had this kind of velocity on the staff," Gloyd said of his starters, most of which hit somewhere between 88-91 miles per hour. "They're all strike throwers, too. They don't walk anybody."

The rest of the pitching staff will be comprised of Jake Johnson and Darren Boone, both of Reno, Placer's Randy Garrison, former Honker Rusty Ward and Colusa graduate Matt Vedo.

While the pitching staff appears to be top notch, the 49ers' lineup may be even better.

"It's probably the best offensive club since my second year here. I've got some guys who can really swing it," Gloyd said. "We handle the bat well. We're not a team that strikes out a lot."

The right side of the infield will be 2007 Yuba City graduates Brian Garcia and Joey Gonzalez starting at first and second base, respectively.

Cody Nickovic, of Reno, will get the nod at third.

The outfield will be led by a set of twins from Reno in Eric and Scott Underwood, while Chad Schryer will man left field.

Also expected to see time on the diamond is former Honker Zach Walden, Placer High grad Ben Elkin and utility player Steven Robison.

The 49ers ended last year on a roll by winning 12 of their final 15 games to finish the season 20-23 overall and 14-14 in the Bay Valley Conference, good enough for fifth in the league.

However, Gloyd was not pleased with the chemistry of the team and cut five players on the first day of practice and in all asked 12 players from past year's squad not to return.

"This team has been my biggest joy at Yuba College. They don't cry, they don't complain, they work. It's been a pleasure," Gloyd said. "They don't really need to be coached — just let them play."

He went on to say, "The attitude is tremendous. If we have practice at 2 p.m., they're in the batting cage at 1 p.m."

Solano is the favorite to win the BVC, which has four teams ranked in the top 25, which is rare.

"They got us picked sixth in league, but I don't think that'll work," Gloyd said.

Season Opener

Yuba College at American River College, Tuesday, 2 p.m.

Team Breakdown

Coach: Tim Gloyd, 12th year

Last Season: 20-23 overall, 14-14 BVC

Strengths: Work ethic and depth

Weakness: Lack of experience

POTENTIAL STARTERS

C Steven Davis (Grass Valley)

1B Brian Garcia (Yuba City)

2B Joey Gonzalez (Yuba City)

3B Cody Nickovich (Reno, NV)

SS Adrian Perez (Woodland)

LF Chad Schryer (Reno, NV)

CF Scott Underwood (Reno, NV)

RF Eric Underwood (Reno, NV)

DH Maxx Harris (Auburn)

ALSO IN THE MIX

UT Zack Walden (Yuba City)

IF Ben Elkin (Auburn)

UT Stephen Robison (Sacramento)

OF Darrel Smeltzley (Grass Valley)

IF Zachary Peek (Fairbanks, AK)

IF John Pelino (Sparks, NV)

C Kyle Mills (Live Oak)

STARTING PITCHERS

RHP Kendyle Blank (Marysville)

RHP Brandon Pope (Yuba City)

RHP Chris Pope (Yuba City)

RHP Will Honjas (Reno, NV)

RHP Micah Dix (Reno, NV)

RHP Maxx Harris (Auburn)

BULLPEN

RHP Rusty Ward (Yuba City)

RHP Matt Vedo (Colusa)

LHP Randy Garrison (Auburn)

RHP Jake Johnson (Reno, NV)

LHP Darren Boone (Reno, NV)

RHP Buck Pershing (South Lake Tahoe, NV)

RHP Calen Davis (Marysville)