Perhaps no one is more suited to take over for Duncanville's legendary coach Bob Rombach than Chris Anderson.

He played for Rombach and coached under him. He knows what Duncanville baseball looked like 15 years ago, when it was the dominant sport at the school.

G.J. McCARTHY / DMN

New Duncanville baseball coach Chris Anderson watches his team.

He also knows how the demographics have changed, and how football and basketball have taken over the landscape at Duncanville.

"We know what happened before us," said Anderson, whose three assistants also played at Duncanville, "and what lies ahead of us."

Anderson, 32, played first base for Rombach from 1991 to 1993 and returned to coach for him after playing at Navarro College and Texas. Anderson is in his eighth year as a coach in Duncanville ISD, the previous four as Rombach's top assistant.

Anderson knows all about the program's tradition. Rombach's teams made the playoffs 22 times in 23 seasons and advanced to six state tournaments, the last in 2002.

Anderson also is aware of changes that might have contributed to Rombach's retirement. Anderson said it is difficult to get enough players to field freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams. That was not the case a decade ago.

"We're working with the junior highs," Anderson said. "We're encouraging kids to try out as freshmen. We're working with the little league programs. We're stressing baseball year-round."

Anderson's biggest task in his first season is finding a replacement for ace William Calhoun – Duncanville has always had at least one dominant pitcher and has played solid defense. Anderson said he is looking for an ace among seniors Shane Everitt, Daniel Ringgenberg and Evan Henson. He has solid defenders up the middle with senior catcher Aaron Barnett and senior shortstop Nathan Harr.

The one thing Anderson said Rombach taught him as a player and coach should help as he tries to keep alive the tradition.

"His greatest skill was as a leader of kids," Anderson said. "We all try to emulate that."

Jordan Imhoff figures if he can duplicate last season's school-record 16 home runs and 61 RBIs, Arlington Martin can play in the state tournament. Its season ended in the regional finals last year.

Question is, can Imhoff, an Oklahoma signee, put up big numbers again? He is probably the area's most feared slugger.

"If he gets his mind right," Martin coach Curt Culbertson said, "he can be better."

Imhoff said he knows exactly what his coach is talking about.

"The baseball season is a grind," said Imhoff, who batted .444 last year. "To get my numbers, I have to get my swing down and my thoughts down. I have to be focused and stay hungry."

Imhoff not only is Martin's cleanup hitter but also its closer. He had 67 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings last season and was 6-0 with four saves.

Culbertson said he is worried that opponents will not give Imhoff good pitches to hit. It has already been happening in scrimmages, the right fielder said. He has been seeing a lot of breaking balls early in counts. So he has to manage his at-bats and work his way into fastball counts.

"Or get a hanging curve," said Imhoff, "which is just as easy to hit in my mind."

Rowlett shortstop Brandon Loy says teammates rib him about signing with Texas. It's all in fun, but it also motivates Loy to work even harder.

"When they watch me do something, they know I'm going to do it as hard as I can," he said. "I've always played like that. My dad played like that."

Loy will follow his father, Darren, to Texas as a second generation Longhorns baseball player. Darren, a catcher, made it to Triple A with Oklahoma City in the Rangers organization in 1989-90.

Like so many others who had pro baseball fathers, Loy was taught early how to play the game. He is an excellent defensive shortstop. He runs the bases well. Loy, who also quarterbacked Rowlett to a first-round upset of Allen in the football playoffs last fall, led his team with 21 stolen bases in 2007.

Loy said he wants to boost his power numbers – he had only one home run last season. He hit the weight room after football season was over. He's also been spending a lot of time in the batting cages.

He said he doesn't expect to put up Jordan Imhoff numbers – the Arlington Martin right fielder belted 16 home runs last season – but Loy is confident he will have more extra-base hits.

"I've been hitting a lot of balls out in batting practice," said Loy, who batted .375 last season. "I know I feel a lot stronger, so we'll see."

PLANO – To say there is a new attitude and new energy at Plano since coach Rick Robertson arrived from South Garland last summer would be an understatement.

"He walks in acting like he knows what he's doing," right fielder Derek Davis said. "He has an aura about him."

Plano has toiled in mediocrity since last making the playoffs in 1999. Last season was particularly disturbing. Former coach David Allen dismissed four players. The team's ace, Nick Thomas, was suspended for several games.

Now, players arrive as much as 45 minutes before practice.

"A New Beginning," the team's official Web site reads.

"Everyone is more motivated," Davis said. "It's a different atmosphere. Everyone works harder. There is more discipline. We're not wasting time."

Robertson won't talk about the past, but he said his players have bought into his approach, which focuses on fundamentals.

"It's been slow, but we're building it back," said Robertson, who had 10 playoff appearances in 18 years at South Garland. "Teaching the fundamentals is what I'm about."

With Davis, Landon Stanford, Griffin Scheumack and Jamen Parten, Plano has pitching depth.

"There is a sense that we're going to win," Stanford said.

May 1-2: SPC tournament, Fort Worth

May 8-10: TAPPS state tournament. Semifinals in Waco, finals in Belton

June 4-7 (or June 5-7, depending on site availability): UIL state tournament, Austin and Round Rock