The championship occured early in the season when few may have noticed.

Mount Vernon rolled through a spring break tournament in Virginia Beach, winning four games, including a couple close ones.

Their confidence soared.

Their mindset changed.

And, a month later, they did something no other Mount Vernon team had been able to do over the past 17 years: The Majors won a district title.

Credit the championship in Virginia Beach as the catalyst. Just winning a trophy altered their belief in themselves.

``That was the turning point,'' Mount Vernon's second-year coach Jim Linza said.

That National District championship might act as a springboard for this season. Even though the Majors lost lots of talent from last season's 20-4 team that lost in the Northern Region quarterfinals, they're still expected to contend.

Part of the reason stems from the other top teams' flaws. Yorktown can hit with anyone, but how well can the Patriots pitch? Washington-Lee is always good and beat Mount Vernon twice last year, but can the Generals score enough? Does Falls Church have enough experience?

If those teams answer their questions, they could easily emerge with a title.

``There's a number of teams that could make a run for it,'' Linza said.

But, chances are, Mount Vernon will have a loud voice in this race. ``Whoever wins the district, at least in the regular season, has to fight through Mount Vernon and Yorktown,'' Washington-Lee coach Doug Grove said.

``Because of the pitching,'' Yorktown coach Mike Allen, passing off the favorite label, said, ``Mount Vernon is the team to beat.''

The Majors return all-district junior pitcher Dan Gulino, in his third varsity season. Gulino also will start at short, but his pitching will make the difference. He throws in the mid-80s, understands how to pitch and is competitive.

``He's just a bulldog,'' Linza said. ``How good can he be? At his best he can be one of the best in the region.''

But after that the Majors are long on potential and short on experience. Linza said he has nine other pitchers to choose from when building his staff. Indeed, he threw 10 pitchers in one scrimmage. If he can find two quality pitchers, Mount Vernon will have a solid staff.

Thing is, the Majors don't have much experience anywhere else. Senior second baseman Carlos Ramos batted .340 last season, about 40 points higher than Gulino. Senior Isaac Bermudez batted .385 in spot duty and will take over at third.

Seniors Spiro Manolas and Tom Garrity platooned in right and senior Jersh Espinoza received some time in the outfield as well.

And that's it. Linza wasn't even comfortable tossing out names of other potential starters. None had yet stood out.

But one other stat stands out: the Majors' junior varsity went 14-0.

Which is why Linza is excited about his junior class (he also says they have a strong freshman group). Sophomore Joey Sable, whose brother John was a standout pitcher for the Majors last season, will catch. Joey Sable already is a three-sport varsity athlete.

``At this point we feel like we've got things in place,'' Linza said. ``Can we keep it going? Washington-Lee has been doing it for 60 years and you look at all their titles. They're always going to be a tough game.''

That's what others are saying about Mount Vernon. Linza said he and his staff tweaked the mindset, demanding the players tuck in their shirts and wear their hats properly. The little things.

``When you haven't been there, it's like you have to teach them how to win and how to act,'' he said. ``That was step one. That's still a battle, but after a year of winning and seeing what we said really worked, they became believers.''

EDISON

For Edison, the season boils down to how quickly the young players mature. With only five returning starters from a 5-14 team, the youngsters will play a key role.

Three seniors lead the returnees, including Marcus Lusk (outfield), Mike Vible (third base) and Chris Boutilier (infield/pitcher). Juniors Brian Beruete (shortstop/pitcher) and Ryan Rice (outfield) also are back.

Boutilier and Beruete will headline the pitching staff after handling the numbers two and three roles, respectively, in 2001. Coach Dave Snider said there's not much difference between the two. Beruete likes to challenge hitters inside while Boutilier is adept at changing speeds.

Senior Jordan DeDona will pitch and play outfield. Juniors David King (first base) and Tommy Kuntz (outfield) and sophomore Matt Heislup (catcher) also will start. Another sophomore, Jake Broughton, will play shortstop and pitch.

Beruete, Boutilier, Kuntz and DeDona all have hit well in the preseason. Kuntz, and King provide the speed.

But the Eagles are thin on the mound after the top starters.

``It all depends on how quickly we grow up,'' Snider said. ``If we find guys who can step up and play, we could look pretty good. But our lack of experience hurts.''

FALLS CHURCH

Falls Church only returns four starters. Fortunately for the Jaguars, this group played a key role in helping them reach the district tournament final a year ago. And should do so again.

Senior Adam Santee and junior Jose Rosario pitched the majority of the innings last season and that won't change this spring. Santee was a second-team all-district pitcher, beating rival Washington-Lee twice as a junior.

Rosario and Santee expect to lead Falls Church's offense, too, after batting .441 and .316, respectively, in 2001.

Senior Troy Sponaugle returns in the outfield and will pitch. Seniors Jason Richards and Jesse Winn were both part-time starters a year ago. They'll each fill utility roles and will pitch.

Senior Jared McCullough, who played sparingly last season, has looked sharp to date at third. Seniors Nate Richman (pitcher/first base) and John Sommer (first base/outfield) also will contribute. Junior Jeff Newell will see time in the outfield and on the mound. Sophomore Evan Moberly will catch when Santee pitches.

If everything goes right, ``We'll compete for the district title,'' coach Jim Goldsmith said.

STUART

Stuart will be young as only one of its four returning starters is a senior. Two other senior returnees are ineligible, making the Raiders trek back to the postseason a tough one.

It also makes first-year coach Tom Wilson's job challenging. Wilson, an assistant at Stuart the past five seasons, had planned on retiring. But when Freddie Mays resigned, Wilson took over, inheriting a 1-20 team.

Wilson has plenty of summer league experience, ranging from Little League to American Legion and Clark Griffith over the past 26 years. But this is his first head coaching job in high school.

Senior shortstop Joey Morgan hopes to return to his sophomore form when he earned all-district honors. He'll also pitch. Senior David Ruskin, new to the varsity, will start in center and might bat leadoff.

Junior Ben Schroll, in his third varsity season, returns at second and, when Morgan pitches, he'll play short. Juniors Drew Robertson and Kalel Batiste, battling a sore arm, return on the mound, giving Wilson something to build around.

Junior Andrew Flatness has looked good thus far at third base. He can also play first or catch.

Sophomores Derrick Rollins and Joe McKay also will pitch. Sophomore Alex Shaw will get first chance at catcher.

The one thing Wilson can't afford are injuries: the Raiders only have 30 players on the varsity and junior varsity combined. Which is why losing potential starters to grades hurt.

``But if we can hit the ball and get these pitchers to do their best and play .500 ball,'' Wilson said, ``I'd be pretty satisfied.''

WAKEFIELD

Coach George Baker knows his team will struggle at the plate and he's not sure yet about the defense. But Baker likes his pitching, which gives the Warriors a good starting point after last year's 9-9 finish.

Left-handed junior Brad Beck, in his third season, will again lead the pitching staff. He throws in the low-80s at best, but has a good curve, an effective changeup and an excellent pickoff move.

Though the other pitchers are inexperienced on the varsity, Baker likes their talent. The staff includes juniors Chris Guest and Mike Chin, the top junior varsity pitcher in 2001, and sophomore Marshall Williams.

Senior Paul Lago, a returning starter at first, also will pitch.

Senior left fielder Andrew Ihnen was a part-time starter a year ago. So, too, were sophomores Michael Chambers (third base) and Kyle Scott (shortstop).

Beck, who batted .420 last season, will lead the offense.

Junior Nabajan Maitra will play in right field. He was the Warriors' top JV player last season, his first in baseball. Maitra already is an accomplished cricket player.

Wakefield plays a tough non-district schedule with games against, among others, Oakton, Robinson and possibly Lake Braddock in a tournament.

``Playing the best teams is the only way we can get better,'' Baker said.

WASHINGTON-LEE

W-L rightly fancies itself a yearly contender for the district title and they don't expect that to change this season.

The Generals return three starters off last year's 13-8 squad, which reached the region quarterfinals after beating Liberty heavyweight Madison.

Senior all-district pitcher Steve Jones, 4-5 last season, is the ace.

``He's among the most competitive people we've had,'' W-L coach Doug Grove said. ``Give me nine Steve Jones and I'll take my chances. I like everything he does.''

Jones, a .400 hitter in 2001, will start in center field when not pitching. The only other returning senior is Trevor Howland, who will DH.

Junior Dan Abbate will pitch and play center, rotating with Jones. Abbate earned all-district utility honors after batting .400 in 2001.

Junior second baseman Rodney Puente, who flirted with .300 last season, will bat leadoff. Junior Michael Berger will start at short.

Evan Howell, a hard-throwing 6-foot-6 sophomore, will be the No. 3 pitcher.

Junior Ian Metzger will split time between first and DH. Speedy junior Brian Nettles will play left and bat leadoff.

The Generals won't strike out many batters, like they've done in the past, placing a premium on the defense.

But they will be tested early with games against South Lakes, Fairfax and Osbourn Park.

``These guys need to deal with the fact that we've been good and there are certain things that come with that,'' Grove said. ``We won't get better playing poor teams.''

YORKTOWN

Yorktown will hit. And hit some more. And then even more. What no one knows yet is how well the Patriots will do on the mound. If they receive steady performances from their pitchers, they could be the team to beat in the National.

Lots of offense returns from last season, when Yorktown finished 13-8 and lost by one run to Langley in the first round of the region tournament.

Here comes the offense: senior Andrew Shreve had 27 hits and batted in the low .400s; senior catcher Paul Fischer finished at .400 with 21 RBI; Sophomore center fielder Steve Brady struck out only four times as a freshman and ended with 26 hits and senior third baseman Danny Dockterman smacked four homers. And senior David Bates, the No. 2 hitter in the lineup, is a four-year starter.

Shreve will start the season at DH, though if his arm fully recovers from an operation in November, then he'll play shortstop or center. He earned second-team all-region honors in 2001.

Brady, Bates and Shreve add lots of speed, too.

Yorktown coach Mike Allen also expects the young players to hit, especially sophomore outfielder Brandon Augustine. Junior Doug Waller, a solid glovesman, and sophomore second baseman Sam Bruno will help at the plate.

Needless to say, the offense is healthy.

``Everything else is a mystery,'' Allen said.

The Patriots return 24 innings on the mound with seniors Nick Kimbrell and Neal Hechtkopf. The latter tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in January. But he'll play with a brace, saving the operation until after the season.

``Neither one has proven they're The Guy,'' Allen said. ``But they just have to throw strikes and I would think we'll be able to hit pretty well.''

Yorktown is one of two area teams, along with T.C. Williams, playing out of state over spring break. The Patriots will spend the week at Cocoa Beach, Fla.