Only Apex, which finished third in the conference, made it to the third round of the NCHSAA playoffs. None made it to regionals.

But most of the teams that did find success last year are returning most of last year's contributors.

The addition of Holly Springs will give the league five teams with 10-or-fewer losses from last season. That doesn't include Fuquay-Varina, a perennial conference power that went 12-14 last year and brings back a number of contributors.

Cary will welcome a new coach this season as Matt Warden takes over for Patrick Parr, who resigned in June. The Imps were 6-18 last year.

Apex: The Cougars went 16-8 last season and have four starters back. They'll relying on junior pitcher Dylan Edwards, who plays some shortstop. Other notables include seniors Christian Rholl, second baseman Sean Buchanan, catcher/pitcher Harry Voorhees and juniors Bo McMillan, a centerfielder, and utility fielder Nick Smith.

Athens Drive: The Jaguars were 13-10 in 2009, but return six starters including Dillon Rudio and pitching standout Blair Betts, an Indiana recruit.

Green Hope: The Falcons were 20-6 last season and return six starters, the team's top four pitchers from last season and 12 lettermen. Gone is All-State shortstop Eric Brady, but a number of players return. Junior pitcher Max Povse was 7-1 with a 2.00 ERA and threw a one-hitter last season; senior Joe Pistacchio, an Appalachian State recruit, was 5-3 with a 1.91 ERA; senior outfielder Grant Shambley, a Wake Forest recruit, hit .412 with 26 runs; and senior Adam Boghosian went 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 37 innings.

Holly Springs: The Golden Hawks have seven starters back from last year's 19-6 squad. The team is flush with talented juniors, including Carlos Rodon, an N.C. State recruit, who hit .330 last season with 30 RBIs; Appalachian State recruit Jesse Sykes, a pitcher/third baseman, who hit .300; third baseman Justin Manning, who hit .351 last season and went 16-1 on the mound; shortstop Wes Conover, a solid defenseman; and leftfielder Kyle Byrd, who hit .487 and scored 30 runs.

Middle Creek: The Mustangs were co-conference champs last year, going 16-9 last season and winning their third conference title in four years. Returning are sophomore Jimmy Boyd, who was All-State as a freshman, Dylan Drayton, Kyle Boyette, Ben Clark and Matt Laxton.