The beginning of the high school baseball season didn't at all go the way coach Rick Kissack and his Grand Island team thought it would.

The Islanders were coming off a 22-5 season with Kash Kalkowski, the honorary captain of last year's Journal Star Super-State team, returning. Granted, the Islanders did lose six position starters from that team, but there were good players ready to step in.

Grand Island went 6-10 to start the season. Injuries took their toll. Pitcher Eric Schwieger was out early after shoulder surgery. Catcher Slade Bolles also missed time during the season, as did middle infielder Pete Kropp, who suffered a broken foot during basketball season.

The Islanders, who were the preseason No. 6 pick, dropped out of the ratings prior to postseason play. They won 14 of their last 18 games to cap off their first state championship season.

"Early on, we had to exorcise some demons," Kissack said during the state tournament. "We had good players, but some were inexperienced. Getting players back really helped."

Kalkowski, a Nebraska recruit who pitched two complete-game victories in the tournament, as well as earning a save in the final game, said the team finally gelled.

"Early in the season, we were making errors on routine plays. The fielding is the big difference," he said. "Everybody started making plays."

Elkhorn won the first Class B title awarded since 1981 after winning the one-class championship last year. A new pitching staff came through for the Antlers, who were the preseason No. 1 pick, using 14 games against Class A teams to hone their skills.

The top four teams in Class B, longtime competitors in high school baseball, all had schedules heavily weighted with Class A teams. Omaha Gross played 16 Class A teams, Lincoln Pius X played 15 and Omaha Skutt played 10.

Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.