Youth in baseball can be a double-edged sword. On one side, young players bring infectious energy and a spark that can lead to wins. On the other, inexperience can sometimes trip up even the most promising teams. For the Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran Lancers, that inexperience showed in last season's 8-11 finish. But this year, that same youth—combined with a full season of valuable experience—is writing an entirely different story.

The Lancers have stormed out to a stunning 10-0 start, earning a No. 2 ranking in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Division 4 poll. It's a remarkable turnaround that has the entire program buzzing.

"I think a lot of the success can partly be traced back to a lot of freshmen getting time on varsity last year," said Lancers coach Joe Lau. "We got off to a slow start last season because of that. But they came into this year with more confidence and a better understanding of what to expect at the high school level."

This season's roster features three sophomores, five juniors, and five seniors, but it's the players who were freshmen and sophomores last year who are leading the charge—especially on the mound and in the field. Sophomores Derek Wales and Cameron Nelson each logged time as pitchers last season, and that experience is now paying off in a big way. Wales boasts a microscopic 0.46 ERA, while Nelson follows with a sharp 2.41 ERA.

"The biggest difference with Derek this year is that he's throwing quite a bit harder," Lau said. "He just needed to grow into his body. And Cam throws strikes and pitches to contact. As long as we're playing good defense, both can be very successful."

Wales, in particular, has been dominant. Across eight starts and one relief appearance, he has struck out 73 batters in just 45.2 innings. "Whenever he's on the mound, it gives us that confidence," said junior catcher Jake Zimmerman. "If we put runs on the board, he's going to give us a shot to win."

Behind that strong pitching, the Lancers have committed just 17 errors all season—a key factor in recording four shutouts and holding opponents to a mere 1.3 runs per game. At the plate, they're not the most overpowering lineup, but with Wales and Nelson anchoring the staff, the Lancers focus on manufacturing runs however they can.

"It's a situation where we know our defense has been good this year," said junior center fielder Sawyer Sydow. "We know we just need to get runs on the board, and we have a chance to win any game. It's one hit at a time. A lot of getting runners on, and the guys will do the job and get them around."

Nelson, who also plays shortstop, leads the team in hits (17) and RBIs (11), while Wales is second in hits with 14. Zimmerman and Sydow have also contributed key at-bats, proving that this team's success is built on collective effort and a never-say-die attitude.

For a team that learned hard lessons last season, the Lancers are now showing just how powerful youth can be when paired with experience, confidence, and a relentless drive to win.