New Rudder baseball coach Matt Harbin pitched in college, so he understands the need to come in and get things settled down.

That is the task Harbin has accepted as the program's fourth head coach in four years. The former Texas Tech player takes over a program that reached the Class 4A state playoffs last year despite having its coach resign during the season.

Harbin was hired in June. He took his first head coaching job determined to bring steadiness to the Rangers.

"I knew the background of how this baseball program has been the last four years and I thought that we can teach these kids stability," Harbin said. "What these kids have been through ... I felt in my heart that this is where I should be and where I was being led."

Harbin replaced Ben Haynes, who resigned during last season after being charged with having an improper relationship with a student. Haynes was in his first year after taking over for James Ward, who served as head coach for one season and then resigned.

Change will be the story of Rudder's roster and lineup this season. For the first time in the program's history, the Rangers must replace a senior class. That group helped set the foundation for the program, including several who started three consecutive years.

"We told them from the get-go that all we're going to worry about doing is controlling our effort, our attitude and our approach," Harbin said. "So far they've responded. We've got a lot of good kids. They work hard and get after it."

Rudder will open the regular season at 7 p.m. Thursday against Montgomery in the Bryan ISD Classic. The Rangers are scheduled to begin a couple of days later than most local teams, but Harbin got something of a head start last month when he watched Rudder players participate in a preseason showcase tournament hosted by the University of Houston.

High school coaches were not allowed to direct their teams, so Harbin sat in the bleachers and took notes.

"I liked the way we played the game, our effort and our attitude," he said. "We're not going to stop hustling, trying to take extra bases and get extra outs until it's done. They competed and competed and competed, and that's all you can ask."

The Rangers return a couple of key seniors from the team that went 17-15 last season, finishing second in District 16-4A before losing to Red Oak in the first round of the playoffs. Blake Kopetsky is expected to be the leader of the pitching staff and also will play in the infield or outfield. Kopetsky, who signed to play for Temple College, went 5-0 with a 1.55 earned run average last season. He also played first base and hit .449 with six doubles, three home runs and 15 runs batted in.

"Blake has really come along," Harbin said. "I love the way the kid competes, whether he's pitching or in the infield or outfield. We're going to ask a lot of him. He is a guy that the kids really look up to."

Center fielder Austin Baron, projected as the leadoff hitter, is another veteran who should play a leading role. Baron was an honorable mention all-district pick last season.

"The kid runs like a gazelle," Harbin said. "He can get on by bunting or driving the ball into the gap. As soon as he gets on we're looking to move him. He's the guy that's going to get us started."

Among the other key position players are a pair of juniors, catcher Josh Foster and shortstop Aaron Fuchs. A former third baseman, Fuchs changed positions after Matthew Voneiff, a second-team all-district selection at shortstop last year, decided not to play as a senior.

When he first saw the Rudder roster, Harbin was pleased that 12 players were listed as pitchers as well as at other positions. Along with Kopetsky and Fuchs, the Ranger mound corps will include junior Tyler Matcek, who also plays right field and hit .303 last year while making second-team all-district. Other pitching candidates are junior Jason Wessell, sophomore Chase Bledsoe, freshmen Jeramey Johnson and Elijah Adams, plus senior Jason Lapp.

2012 RUDDER ROSTER

Number  Name        Class   Position

1  Oresta Jackson        sr.          OF

2  Blake Kopetsky        sr.        P/UT

3  Nathan Biddlecome   jr.        OF

4  Jason Lapp               sr.          P

5  Chase Bledsoe       soph.     P/IF

6  Josh Foster               jr.        P/IF/C

7  Tyler Matcek              jr.         P/OF

8  Aaron Fuchs              jr.        P/IF/C

10 Joel Hoffman            sr.         OF

11 Luke Piper                 jr.       P/OF/IF

13 Austin Baron             sr.        P/OF

17 Jason Wessell           jr.         P/IF

18 Jeramey Johnson      fr.       UT/P

21 Darrien Williams      soph.     UT

22 Montana Hammack soph.    P/IF

23 Elijah Adams             fr.        P/UT

24 Blake Ward                jr.      P/IF/C