Having knowledgeable, communicative assistant coaches can only help a team's cause. Jake Kuschke brings exactly that to the Mahtomedi Zephyrs' baseball team.

Oh, he's slotted in the everyday lineup as well. The three-year starting catcher is not only excellent behind the plate, but an effective leader and mentor.

"He knows the game better than anyone I know," fellow captain Sawyer Marshall said. "He knows how to work with kids. He knows how to communicate with his teammates. All-around he's a great guy on and off the field.

"It makes baseball a lot easier going to the field every day knowing he's there."

Kuschke often pulls aside teammates, most notably the younger ones, for one-on-one instructions, quick tips and other baseball commentary. Its effect is felt throughout the clubhouse. Even head coach John Hardgrove will admit Kuschke can be a more effective communicator than coaches at times.

"When it comes from a player to a player, that tends to drive the message home a little bit further. They know he's serious," Hardgrove said. "He buys into what we're doing, and he's supportive of what we're doing as coaches, so it's just been a great fit."

Kuschke, who will play baseball next fall for St. Scholastica, doesn't do it to exude authority or wield power. He's just trying to help the team any way he can. That's what the previous elder statesmen did for him. That's what he wants to pass on to the next generation of Zephyrs.

"I had guys growing up, former captains and people that I've played with that did that for me," he added. "I feel if I can give the younger guys a little bit more knowledge than they had the day before, then it's a win."

It's not just a win for the players, but for the team. The value of his leadership can be measured in victories and the Zephyrs' second-place finish in the Classic Suburban Conference.

Mahtomedi finished 15-5 in the regular season, a record that the captains had set as one of their exact goals.

That might come as a surprise to many. Mahtomedi graduated seven starters and Hardgrove was tasked with finding fresh faces to fill out his lineup card this spring. There were some obvious question marks, especially on the mound. Turns out, that's where the team's biggest strength lies.

Mike Baumann and Cole Wynveen have pitched with confidence. Baumann, a sophomore, has shined with a mid- to upper-80s fastball. Wynveen, a senior, came on late last season, showing a lot of promise as a reliever. He grabbed the ball as a starter this spring and never looked back.

Offensively, the Zephyrs have been getting production from throughout the order. They'll need both pitching and hitting to get past a tough section bracket.

To help prepare for the upcoming playoffs, teammates dyed their hair black last weekend. David Peterson hopes it will help them cash in.

"I think we have a good vibe going. It's getting us riled up," Peterson said. "A little bit more is at stake for me and some of the other kids with blonde hair. We're looking pretty goofy at school so we're hoping that we can win a few games to make it worthwhile."