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Neuqua Valley and Naperville Central seized the past two Class AA state titles, yet each entered the 2008 season with vastly different profiles.

As the nucleus of its pitching staff returns, Neuqua must handle great expectations, while a young Central team will rely on sophomores to play at critical positions across the diamond.

Yet on a cold Saturday, with a bright sun radiating little heat, visiting Neuqua - ranked fifth in the state by one preseason poll - watched a rivalry game slip away with one big inning. And Central hung on for a 5-4 victory and braced for an early jolt of confidence.

"Everybody wants to think (we're not) going to have a defense this year, and we have too many young guys, but the bottom line is we're a lot better team than what we were last year," Central pitcher Pat Kaminska said afterward.

Last year shadows Neuqua (1-1), which cut Central's lead to 5-4 in the seventh inning and still had runners on second and third and a chance to change the game. Kaminska then ended it by striking out Chris Kruppe and Travis Weldon - the Wildcats' No. 2 and No. 3 hitters.

"Our guys think they can just show up and it happens," Neuqua coach Robin Renner said. "We've talked about it from the first day, and now they're lookin' like, 'Oh gee Coach, I think you're right.'"

For Neuqua, the frustration built from a third inning that saw Central score all five of its runs on only two hits. As Neuqua catcher/pitcher Geoff Rowan said: "We (just) shot ourselves in the foot today."

Anthony Lopez struck out swinging for what appeared to be the third inning's final out, but the ball escaped and the junior ran safely to first. John Holm followed with an RBI double, and two errors by the shortstop Weldon helped extend the inning further, along with Marc Mantucca's RBI double to the left-field corner that hit the fence 330 feet away.

"I think defense is a lot attitude. There's been times when we've had players that truly in their mind (think) 'Hit that ball to me. I don't (care). Hit it to me. Boom, and let's go,'" Renner said. "Our guys this year are: 'I hope they hit it to that guy.'"

Central coach Bill Seiple's tone was less drastic. Seiple called Neuqua one of the three best teams in the state, and said the rivalry game may have been more important to his young Redhawks. Either way, Central (2-2) took a step in the right direction, toward a spring break week that may reveal more about itself.

"Our guys have got to begin to believe that they can play," Seiple said.