During the 2009 regular season, the Point Loma High School varsity baseball team played the role of the hare. An electric 17-3 start had a confident and senior-laden bunch on the fast track to a top seed in the Division II playoffs. But the Pointers’ 2-9 finish, while not exactly the fabled nap taken by history’s most intrepid rabbit, was darn close to it. A slow start this season isn’t by design. But for all intents and purposes, head coach Jon Posternack doesn’t mind if his team plays the role of the tortoise in 2010. “We’d rather start slow than end slow,” Posternack said after an early season home win against Murrieta Valley that brought his team to 2-3 overall. “That’s one thing that we’ve been preaching. We’re running a marathon, rather than a sprint.” A young and talented group leads the Pointers, with pitching and defense being Point Loma’s foremost assets. The staff’s top three consists of junior Kellen Urbon, sophomore Connor Baits and junior Campbell Wear. Wear, a team captain, echoes Posternack’s urgency for consistency in all aspects of the game. “Our hitting has been a challenge,” Wear said. “Our pitching is really strong this year. The defense always comes around. We just have to keep that consistent. But if we hit well this year, we’ll go far.” Fellow captain, senior Zach Skarbic, is a returning all-Western League second-team player at shortstop. Skarbic and senior catcher Sean Stepina are the only two senior starters on the squad. Both would like to end their high school careers with the Pointers taking their first CIF title since 1982. “Our goals are winning the Western League and winning a CIF championship,” Skarbic said. “We have a lot of confidence in each other. Like I said, we have a lot of young guys but we trust each other and pick each other up.” That type of attitude is what Posternack wants from his baseball team. In his sixth season at the helm, “Coach P” is fostering a hungry, energized and competitive program. Early season impacts from sophomore Jackson Leslie and freshman Tyler Majofis showcase Point Loma’s ability to produce top talent. In the coming weeks, Point Loma will compete in the City Tournament — culminating tomorrow, March 26, against Saint Augustine — and the Lions Tournament. Both tourneys will get the Pointers ready for the grind of the Western League schedule. “Our message has been consistency and focus,” Posternack said. “Ultimately, our kids put in a lot of time and energy in practice. When it comes time to play in the games, we want them to be loose, relaxed and confident. Just trust in their skills and enjoy the game.” Loose, relaxed and confident. And a belief that slow and steady really does win the race.