Equipped with a plethora of returning pieces from last spring and a few new additions from Warwick Vets, the Toll Gate baseball team should be in store for a competitive season in the state’s top division.

The Titans went just 4-14 last season, but they’ll return all but two starters with the hopes of making a push for the playoffs this time around.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs,” Toll Gate head coach Nick Durand said. “We want to be better than .500 and be in the playoffs. The kids are confident they can get that done.”

Even with all that Toll Gate has coming back this spring, arguably its most prominent piece will be a newcomer from Vets.

Dave Defusco will throw on a Titans’ uniform for this first time this season after a junior campaign at Vets in which he hit .426 and earned a 6-1 record on the bump to secure a Second Team All-State selection.

He is set to patrol centerfield and serve as Toll Gate’s shut down closer.

“He’s a very good hitter and has a cannon in centerfield,” Durand said of Defusco. “It’ll be a big help to have him both in the outfield and in the lineup.”

Defusco will be joined in the outfield by fellow Vets transfer Dan Pratt in left field and senior Josh Coleman in right field.

Marcus Alexander, a senior captain, will start behind the dish, while another senior, Nick Kazandjian, will play first base. They’ll be joined in the infield by a trio of juniors – Matt Martinez (second base), Damien Mendoza (shortstop) and Dylan Palmiotti (third base).

Durand also singled out junior Ryan Carlson as another player who should contribute, as he’s looked strong at the plate in the preseason.

No specific pitching rotation has been finalized as of yet, but the Titans should have solid depth on the hill.

Martinez, Nick Cehelsky, Coleman, Pratt, Defusco and another Vets transfer, Jake Brodeur, will log the majority of the innings, and Durand is confident that group will perform at a high level.

“We have five solid guys with varsity experience, guys who have had success either here or at Vets,” Durand said.

Durand, alongside assistant coaches Adrian Phillips and Mike DeCesare, will look to guide the Titans to their first winning season since 2014. And they should have a good shot to be right in the playoff mix with the anticipated parity within the division this spring.

“I think Hendricken, Lincoln, La Salle and South Kingstown will have strong teams,” Durand said. “But I think it’s going to be a competitive season with a bunch of teams around .500.”

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League decided to switch up the baseball scheduling this season.

Last spring, teams only played within their subdivisions, whereas this season, each team will play every team in Division I once, regardless of subdivision.

The Titans will get tested right out of the gate with home games against state runner-up South Kingstown on Wednesday and North Kingstown on Thursday. Both of those games are slated for 4 p.m. starts at Mickey Stevens.

“The last couple of seasons have been rough,” Durand said. “But we’re definitely more optimistic this time.”