This year’s Benicia High varsity baseball team looks almost nothing like the squad that won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship last year.

Only one regular starter returns from a team that went 27-5 overall en route to their first Section title since 2011. A total of 15 players moved on, including 11 of the top 12 hitters and most of the pitching staff.

“We have a bunch of guys you’ve never heard of,” said Benicia manager Jim Bowles. “This team is quite a bit different personality-wise from last year, but they’re a very hard-working group and very coachable. They’re competitive.”

This year’s team is built around senior Caleb Van Blake, who has already agreed to play for U.C. Davis after graduation. Van Blake was second on the team in RBIs last year and added two saves out of the bullpen. He’ll play shortstop and bat third while also filling the role as closer again out of the bullpen.

“With such a young staff, he’ll probably have to get more two and three-inning saves this year,” Bowles said. “Guys will be looking to him for leadership and direct the infield.”

Veteran Dillon Palomino was expected to be the ace of the pitching staff this season, but he suffered a torn rotator cuff last summer and is out for the year.

“That’s definitely a big loss, but we still have some good young arms,” Bowles said. “They just need some game time and experience, so we’ll be pitching more by committee early in the season.”

Bowles is especially impressed with Cole Eigenhuis, a 6-foot-6 sophomore up from the junior varsity. Eigenhuis will start in the outfield when he’s not pitching but is expected to carry a heavy load on the mound.

“He’s gonna turn a lot of heads this year,” Bowles predicted. “He’s a special player right now who’s super-competitive and very athletic. He’s a high school power pitcher ready for the big stage.”

Senior Taylor Greene, who will start Friday’s season opener at home against Napa, tossed 16 innings last year and throws with high velocity. Senior Jack Bowles is another returning pitcher with some experience, and Evan Phillips was one of the more consistent JV pitchers last season. Isiah Saguar and Niko Leon Guerrero will also be counted on to eat up innings.

“A lot of our pitchers will play other positions, and I’m not used to that,” Bowles said. “I have to be real careful with their arms. But they all throw lots of strikes and have good stuff.”

Saguar will bat in the leadoff spot and play centerfield when he’s not pitching. Bowles will see a lot of time at second base, with Jason Toumbs and Xion Covington-Hunt sharing time at first base. Greene and Maurice Calhoun will play third base.

Benicia has two solid catchers in sophomore Ethan Payne and junior Frank Tom. Saguar anchors an outfield that will also feature Eigenhuis, Armani Dickerson, Alex Osterholt, Justin Badger and Kyle Sinclair.

Benicia may not be as speedy as last season, but their bats may be more powerful.

“I think we’ll have more power than last year,” Bowles said. “I think we’ll drive the ball pretty good.”

Winning back-to-back Section championships is a lot to ask from such an inexperienced team, but Bowles feels this squad is capable of going all the way.

“What last year’s team did is not their burden to bear,” Bowles said. “This is their season and we just want them to have as successful a season as they can. That being said, our goal is still to win the league and Section again, and there’s no doubt in my mind they have the ability to accomplish those goals. After going through some growing pains, when we hit our stride going into league, I think we’ll be tough.”