Josh Fields/Arizona Daily Wildcat The present and past met at third base when former Wildcat Chris Frey and freshman Jon Gaston played in the alumni game Sunday afternoon. It will be up to newcomers like Gaston to make up for the production of the seven Wildcats who left in the Major League Baseball draft.

Everyone wants to talk about the guys they lost.

From standout left fielder Trevor Crowe to the solid backstop Nick Hundley, it's understandable that it would be a point of emphasis, but despite the losses (all totaled, eight players including Crowe, Hundley, first baseman Jordan Brown, pitchers John Meloan and Kevin Guyette, center fielder Chris Frey, right fielder Jeff Van Houten, and second baseman Brad Boyer were chosen on the first day of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft), the team remains focused.

Of the seven underclassmen selected last year (Van Houten was the lone senior), only Boyer chose to remain in school, meaning the 2006 version of Arizona baseball will look much different than the 2005 edition did.

"It's what you experience in college baseball," Arizona head coach Andy Lopez said. "I mean, I've been doing it for 25 years, and you're gonna lose good players after three years because they're juniors and they get drafted."

If it sounds simple, that's because it is. Everyone wants to focus on the fact that the post-draft Arizona squad seemingly has holes all over its lineup, but remember, it was Lopez who recruited the likes of Crowe, Hundley, Brown, Meloan, Guyette and Frey.

With all the hits to this year's roster, outside of top returnees Boyer and junior closer Mark Melancon, junior shortstop Jason Donald's name might be the only one that pops out to the average fan.

Not that it matters though, because in college baseball it's not about looking back but looking forward.

"I'm sorry to see them leave, but ... I'm excited about the next group coming in, and they get a chance to make their mark," Lopez said of his star-studded 2006 class.

One name soon to be ingrained in the memory of fans across campus is that of junior catcher Konrad Schmidt, who joins the Wildcats this season after two years at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he was named the 2005 Northern California Junior College Player of the Year after batting .418 with five home runs and 51 RBI.

Also set to make waves is true freshman Jon Gaston from Borah High School in Boise, Idaho. The left-handed hitting outfielder, who led his team to back-to-back state championships in high school, was named the 2005 Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year.

Ryan Casey staff writer

Thus far, the class that Lopez will be heavily relying on this season has made a favorable impression not only on the coach himself but with the returning players as well.

"A lot of good guys," senior outfielder Derek Decater said. "Very athletic, very fast.

"You also got a couple big guys, your Glenns (freshman outfielder Brad Glenn) and your Plantes (freshman first baseman David Plante), ... which is nice to have. We haven't had those big power guys in the past."

(Unless of course, you count Hundley, who certainly counts himself: "You don't have a Hundley hitting 15 bombs a year," he reminded Decater at practice last week before Sunday's alumni game.)

Though confident in his newcomers' abilities, Lopez said he remains cautious.

"Obviously there's some growth that needs to take place, but that's going to take place in its own course and time," Lopez said. "I really believe the only thing they lack right now is just being able to play the game of college baseball on a regular basis, and they'll get that chance in a couple of weeks."

The freshman with possibly the most weight on his shoulders is right-handed pitcher Mike Colla, who is expected to be the team's Sunday starting pitcher. The Fresno, Calif., native had a 1.14 ERA his senior year at Clovis West High en route to amassing 34 career wins.

Despite the youthful age of the rotation (sophomore lefties Eric Berger and David Coulon anchor the other two spots), Lopez firmly believes that it will succeed.

"They'll need some game experience, but ... they shouldn't be complacent," he said. "They'll be anxious and eager to go out and compete, so we're looking forward to that."

They won't be the only ones who'll be anxious, after the recently released Pacific 10 Conference coaches' preseason poll slapped the Wildcats in the face. Arizona came in fifth despite finishing second last season.

"It's kind of an insult to the older guys," Donald said. "If that's how they feel, that's OK. We're ready to show what we have."

"I think it was the year we went to Omaha (in 2004) we weren't expected to do much either," Decater said.

So does the coach think the low ranking will provide motivation for his club?

"I would hope so," Lopez said. "I'm glad our guys are ready to play."