WATERLOO - Early Monday evening, a dozen or so new members of the Waterloo Bucks sat on Riverfront Stadium's party deck before practice.

The conversation was both minimal and strained.

Of course, the awkward moments will soon subside for this group - right around the time the Bucks take a 10-hour bus ride to Thunder Bay.

"All the bus rides and time spent practicing, it definitely (builds) a bond with teammates," said Troy White, an 18-year old third baseman from Northern Illinois University.

"Hopefully you like it, because if you don't you're stuck with them for a long time," White added, laughing.

The Waterloo Bucks, about to celebrate their 15th season of Northwoods League baseball, insist they're a group worth getting to know.

That starts with a familiar face in the dugout.

For the first time in five years, Waterloo's manager came back for a second season as Pete Lauritson returned to the fold.

"I take a lot of pride in managing the Waterloo Bucks. It's the number one thing in my life right now," said Lauritson, a Mason City native who recently wrapped up his sixth season as an assistant at North Iowa Area Community College.

And, the coach noted, "you expect that out of the players - to have a lot of passion for the Bucks."

Last summer, of course, tested Lauritson's undying devotion. The Cedar Valley's monumental flood relegated the Bucks to the road for most of the season's first half, resulting in nearly $300,000 of lost revenue for the franchise and a 14-18 first-half record.

By the end of 2008, Waterloo had been saddled with its sixth consecutive non-winning season. Yet, the Bucks showed resilience down the stretch, going 18-16 in the second half.

And then Lauritson, and numerous troops, signed on to return in 2009.

"I love it here," said second-year hurler Chris Pack of Villanova at Tuesday's team media day. "Pete's the best, because his personality is so laid-back. He trusts his players. It makes everyone relaxed."

Now, at least on paper, the building blocks are there.

For example, one of last year's key leaders on the mound, Bob Lackovic (13 saves), is set for a return to Waterloo, which opens the season Thursday night at Green Bay.

"I feel like we've really improved offensively," said Lauritson, whose team hit a league-worst .230 in 2008. "We've added guys that … can hit in the middle of the order, driving in runs and hitting for average."

One such slugger is University of Illinois freshman Willie Argo, a Davenport native who hit .355 with 12 home runs for the Illini this spring.

One of the few early negatives for Waterloo is the fact that last year's star, James Jones of Long Island University, will almost assuredly skip a return trip to the Cedar Valley this summer. Jones, a left-handed pitching prospect whose fastball tops out at 93 mph, could be selected as early as the third round when the Major League Baseball draft begins on June 9.

Jones, despite a 1-9 record for 10-40 LIU this spring, is set to work out for scouts at New York's Yankee Stadium and Seattle's Safeco Field within the next week.

Regardless, the Waterloo contingent believes the puzzle pieces are in place for an intriguing season.

"I'm just excited about the competition, going out there and seeing where I stand and playing against some of the best players in college baseball," said White, who was drafted in the 48th round by the Cleveland Indians in 2008 before heading to Northern Illinois.

"It's about the closest thing you can get to minor-league baseball; you play every day and you play great competition."

Around the NWL …

BRAINERD LANDS LUNKERS: For the third time in a decade, the Northwoods League club in Brainerd, Minn., will have a new nickname.

After St. Cloud River Bats owner Joel Sutherlund purchased the Brainerd franchise from the Northwoods League last December, he let local fans give the team a new name.

The winner? The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers.

Previously, Brainerd's NWL teams sported monikers of the Mighty Gulls (1998-02) and the Blue Thunder (2005-08).

CHATTER: Waterloo has a new radio play-by-play man in Brandon Lewis. The Armstrong native is currently an upperclassman at the University of Northern Iowa. He'll be behind the microphone for all Bucks' broadcasts this season on 95.3 KQMG-FM. … The Bucks' two 2009 UNI signees, infielder Cory Ege and pitcher Derek Ott, won't play in Riverfront Stadium anytime soon. Ege will spend the summer concentrating on academics, and Ott is on the reserve list due to a lingering injury.

2009 SCHEDULE

May 28 - at Green Bay, 6:35 p.m.; May 29 - at Green Bay, 7:05 p.m.; May 30 - Duluth, 7:05 p.m.; May 31 - Duluth, 3:05 p.m.

June 1 - Battle Creek, 7:05 p.m.; June 2 - Battle Creek, 7:05 p.m.; June 3 - at Madison, 7:05 p.m.; June 4 - at Madison, 7:05 p.m.; June 5 - Mankato, 7:05 p.m.; June 6 - Mankato, 7:05 p.m.; June 8 - at St. Cloud, 7:05 p.m.; June 9 - at St. Cloud, 7:05 p.m.; June 10 - at Alexandria, 6:05 p.m.; June 11 - at Alexandria, 6:05 p.m.; June 12 - at Mankato, 7:05 p.m.; June 13 - at Mankato, 7:05 p.m.; June 14 - Wisconsin, 3:05 p.m.; June 15 - Wisconsin, 7:05 p.m.; June 16 - at Madison, 7:05 p.m.; June 17 - at Madison, 7:05 p.m.; June 18 - St. Cloud, 7:05 p.m.; June 19 - St. Cloud, 7:05 p.m.; June 20 - Green Bay, 7:05 p.m.; June 21 - Green Bay, 3:05 p.m.; June 22 - Eau Claire, 7:05 p.m.; June 23 - Eau Claire, 7:05 p.m.; June 25 - at La Crosse, 7:05 p.m.; June 26 - at La Crosse, 7:05 p.m.; June 27 - at Wisconsin, 6:35 p.m.; June 28 - at Wisconsin, 5:05 p.m.; June 29 - La Crosse, 7:05 p.m.; June 30 - La Crosse, 7:05 p.m.

July 1 - Alexandria, 7:05 p.m.; July 2 - Alexandria, 7:05 p.m.; July 3 - Green Bay, 7:05 p.m.; July 4 - Green Bay, 4:05 p.m.; July 6 - La Crosse, 7:05 p.m.; July 7 - La Crosse, 7:05 p.m.; July 8 - at Battle Creek, 6:05 p.m.; July 9 - at Battle Creek, 6:05 p.m.; July 10 - Battle Creek, 7:05 p.m.; July 11 - Battle Creek, 7:05 p.m.; July 12 - Thunder Bay, 3:05 p.m.; July 13 - Thunder Bay, 7:05 p.m.; July 14 - at Battle Creek, 6:35 p.m.; July 15 - at Battle Creek, 6:35 p.m.; July 16 - at Thunder Bay, 6:05 p.m.; July 17 - at Thunder Bay, 6:05 p.m.; July 18 - at Duluth, 7:05 p.m.; July 19 - at Duluth, 5:05 p.m.; July 21 - All-Star Game, at Thunder Bay; July 23 - at Battle Creek, 6:05 p.m.; July 24 - at Battle Creek, 6:05 p.m.; July 25 - Madison, 7:05 p.m.; July 26 - Madison, 3:05 p.m.; July 27 - Eau Claire, 7:05 p.m.; July 28 - Eau Claire, 7:05 p.m.; July 29 - at Wisconsin, 6:35 p.m.; July 30 - at Wisconsin, 6:35 p.m.; July 31 - Madison, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 1 - Madison, 7:05 p.m.; Aug. 2 - at Green Bay, 5:05 p.m.; Aug. 3 - at Green Bay, 7:05 p.m.; Aug. 5 - Wisconsin, 1:05 p.m.; Aug. 6 - Wisconsin, 7:05 p.m.; Aug. 7 - at La Crosse, 7:05 p.m.; Aug. 8 - at La Crosse, 6:05 p.m.; Aug. 9 - at Eau Claire, 6:05 p.m.; Aug. 10 - at Eau Claire, 6:35 p.m.; Aug. 11-13 - NWL divisional playoffs; Aug. 14-16 - NWL championship series