In his first year as a baseball skipper, Riviera Kaufer High School’s Joseph R. Pickens and his team had the kind of success that sometimes eludes newbies.

The Seahawks went 23-4 overall and advanced all the way to the second round of the postseason before being eliminated.

Kaufer has seven players returning from last season.

“I think it was really good for them (returners) to know that last year was my first year in trying to set up a new program for these guys,” Pickens said.

“Our returners now know what to expect, how the practices are going to run and how I coach so it should go a lot smoother this year.”

The Seahawks will have to trek through District 32-2A’s gauntlet this season which includes U.S. 77 adversary Bishop High School.

“This is probably one of the toughest districts in all of the 2A zones in my opinion,” Pickens said.

“Bishop, with the great season they had last year and pretty much have their whole team coming back, will be the frontrunner in this district and the team to beat. They made the regional finals last year and were one game away from state; they were eliminated by Danbury, the same team that beat us out.”

Kaufer will also have to contend with another familiar division foe.

“Hebbronville is also right there with Bishop so it should be a good race between us three,” Pickens said.

Limbering up for the 2010 campaign is Building Block Number One for the Seahawks right now.

“We are getting in shape and it is kind of hard because we still have about six or seven players in basketball,” Pickens said.

“So we are just getting our feet wet, getting our arms in shape - weather permitting - and working on hitting. We will work on bunt coverages and situations like that when I get everybody back, but right now we are working on the elementary stuff to get back in the swing of things.”

Pickens comes into 2010 a more knowledgeable coach having learned plenty during his rookie season.

“I am more seasoned as far as knowing the district, knowing what to expect from the teams we’ll be playing and knowing how the whole high school baseball system works,” Pickens said. “I kind of knew but I really didn’t know last year and I have that knowledge now.”