With just two games on the books for the 2005 season, the Mehlville Senior High baseball team is off to a blazing start with wins over Oakville and St. Mary’s.

“That first win was a very big one for us,” Mehlville head coach Jim Kern told the Call. “It really let us know where we’re at.”

That first win was a 7-3 thumping over rival Oakville in which the Panthers capitalized on Oakville’s four errors.

Despite the win, Kern said his Panthers need some fine tuning to be one of the best teams in the area.

“It was a good showing as to exactly where we are as a team,” Kern explained. “We still got some things to work on if we want to be one of the better teams in the area.”

The Panthers continued their hot play last Thursday with a 12-1 bombing of the St. Mary’s Dragons.

“St. Mary’s pitchers had a hard time hitting the zone,” Kern explained. “We also were very disciplined at the plate.”

Barry Gregg certainly showed discipline at the plate, taking one walk, smacking two hits, driving in a run and scoring two runs.

“I think he has been working hard in the offseason to get back his hitting,” Kern said. “He had a good approach at the plate. I think he’s more disciplined at the plate than he was last year.”

Mehlville starting pitcher Mike Zeller threw a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits. The junior hurler whiffed two and walked two in his first win of the 2005 campaign.

“Mike threw the ball exceptionally well and was able to spot his fastball early,” Kern said. “He did a good job at keeping them off balance.”

The Panthers welcome the Clayton Greyhounds to town for a non-conference match-up at 4 p.m. today — Thursday, March 31.

“They usually have better-than-average pitching,” Kern said.

“We’re going to have to play well to beat them,” he said.