VIROQUA – It’s the reality for any team that loses all but one or two players from a team that goes 15-7 the year before. A rebuilding process is underway for the Viroqua baseball team.

The Blackhawks have already experienced some highs and lows this season in nonconference play and suffered a loss in the Coulee Conference opener, 6-4, to Black River Falls.

“It’s going to take awhile,” Viroqua coach Pete Swanson said. “The key is to get better and better as the season progresses and be ready to at the end of the year at regionals.”

Swanson said that means a focused effort on hitting in practice for the Blackhawks (0-1, 2-3-1), which means developing that patience at the plate that experienced players gain.

“I try to make sure we get a lot of hitting in during practice, but there’s not much I can do about it because nothing really simulates live pitching,” Swanson said. “We have to limit our strikeouts and be better at putting the ball in play.”

Junior first baseman Luigi Dolenti has emergent as the team’s top hitter and senior outfielder Brody Rudrud have shown progress through the first five games.

On the mound, senior Keifer Knight and junior Danny Wheeler have stepped up as the top two arms who will likely lead the team through the season.

The inexperience of both as the guys the team will depend on is showing up in walks on the field, but they, too are coming into their own.

“With pitchers you want to progress through April and by May have a rhythm going and start getting into a groove,” Swanson said.

Things don’t get easier for the Blackhawks as they go through April and into May with La Crosse Aquinas and Prairie du Chein – both teams that made it to state championship games last year – on the schedule.

“We’re expecting to do well,” Swanson said. “We can’t hang our heads.

“We have to manage to survive everyday and be good by the end of the year.”

By the end of the year Swanson expects Viroqua to be right in the midst of the four-team Coulee Conference race with Black River Falls, Westby and Onalaska Luther.

The Blackhawks will need to seek revenge on Black River Falls which won the conference opener, 6-4, Monday.

“It was a close game, but they played a little better than we did,” Swanson said.