MIDDLETON – The Middleton baseball team went 17-5 last year. Successful? Sure. But coming short of a sectional title was not exactly what coach Tom Schmitt and the rest of the Cardinals had in mind for the season.

“The regular season is exhibition for the postseason,” Schmitt said. “You want to be playing your best come playoff time and we weren’t when we lost.

“These guys are ready to go out and show they are better than that.”

The Cardinals bring back 10 seniors that should dominate the lineup, including eight strong bats that return to the lineup.

Shane Adler is a junior that should contribute as the team’s ace. Adler was a first-team all Big Eight Conference pick a year ago.

Brooks Braga is the other returning first-team all-conference pick from last year who will bring his bat and a bag full of gloves with him as the Cardinals’ utility player.

“He’s athletic enough and a team player to take on different positions,” Schmitt said of Braga, who also made a name for himself on the football field. “He just goes out and does it. He’s not a real talkative kid. He goes out and leads by example.”

Derek Layton will also be a force for Middleton as the team’s No. 2 pitcher and offensive force as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.

Despite playing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder (his non-throwing shoulder) he hit .395 with two homers and 28 RBI last year. Throw in that he’s on the high school’s honor roll and you have a complete player.

“He has a lot of tools and really likes the game of baseball,” Schmitt said. “He’s capable of having as good, if not a better season this year than he had last year.”

Defense should be another strength for the Cardinals who have experience and talent around the diamond, namely in the infield, which is back in tact from last season.

Even with the returning seniors, there is still the possibility of some young guys stepping up when called upon from a junior varsity team that went 17-3 last season.

“Our depth is going to be a real strength for us,” Schmitt said. “We have pretty good depth in case someone goes down or if someone is going through a bit of a cold spell.”

If it all comes together, Middleton, ranked No. 2 in the preseason Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Division 1 preseason poll, could win their third straight conference title.

“There are a lot of good teams in the conference,” Schmitt said. “If we keep our goals in tact and keep focused we’ll play how we want to play, it will be a bonus to play against top level talent and prepare us for the postseason.”