Coach Barney Earle’s Duxbury baseball team may not make state or national headlines, but they seem to be doing quite well in their own little universe, having won four straight Patriot League titles with an excellent chance for a repeat.

Starting his 17th season on the bench, Earle will have to battle through another layer of competition this year with the addition of Whitman-Hanson, Quincy, and North Quincy into the Patriot League family, while Hingham should continue to be the Dragons’ toughest opponent.

Despite what looks like a very tough schedule with the likes of Division II State champion Plymouth North in the opener and a pair of games with arch-rival Marshfield, the Duxbury coach is confident his team, which includes eight veteran starters and three returning pitchers, is primed and ready to take on anyone without any fears.

“Experience, pitching depth, and the ability to score some runs should make us a pretty formidable team,” said. Earle. “I guess you could say we are a very balanced team.”

Pitching is the name of the game, and Duxbury has five hurlers that Earle feels can take the mound anytime and put his team in a position to win.

“Jeff Blout, Phil Sciretta, Tyler Genereux, Stephen Blout and Conor Anderson are our five pitchers,” said Earle. “I’ve got enough kids who can throw if we get in a jam, so we aren’t just running two kids out there every other day which is a nice position to be in.”

Earle is undecided who will pitch Wednesday’s non-league opener with Plymouth North, as Friday’s Patriot League match in Hingham at 3:30 p.m. could be far more critical down the road.

“Jeff Blout throws in the mid-80s and has a pretty good curve ball that can buckle some knees,” said his coach. “He’s working on a change-up and he does have the velocity that can overpower some kids. It’s nice having a lefty like Phil who has good velocity and an overhand curveball that really runs in on right-handed hitters. This is his first year pitching with me, but he has thrown AAU baseball for a couple of years and he really threw well in our scrimmage last week. In Genereux you have a kid that is always going to be around the plate. He won’t be over-powering, but he’s going to get people out.”

Senior catcher Colin Woods will handle the pitching staff after doing an admirable job behind the plate in 2008, while Jim Landry will serve as a backup.

When Sciretta is not pitching, he’ll be manning the bag at first after a freshman year in which he was named a Patriot League All-Star, a Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic (HM), and led the team in hitting with a .480 average.

“He plays a very solid first base and that is his natural position,” said Earle. Senior Tom Dacey will serve as the backup at first base.

Matt Savard will see considerable time at second base, where he has done a nice job defensively and can swing a solid bat. Liam Bevans should also get a shot at playing time at second, but is versatile enough that Earle could put him at different positions.

Senior Sean Cross will patrol shortstop for the Dragons for the third straight year.

“He’s as good as anyone in the league defensively and I expect him to break out at the plate this year,” said Earle. Steve Blout will sub for Cross when he needs a break.

Genereux will move over to third base after playing second in 2008.

“He swings a good bat (2-run HR vs. Cohasset) and is a hell of an athlete. He’s still learning how to play third, but he’ll be fine.” Junior Conor Inglis will serve as his backup.

Pat McWilliams will start in left after a solid sophomore season, with Jeff Blout ready as his replacement and as one of the team’s designated hitters.

Coming back for his third year as a starter in centerfield is Iowa-bound Shane DiBona, who is the team’s power-hitter in the middle of the order, having clocked some titanic blasts in his first two years on the varsity. Sitting and waiting for his chance at some playing time in center will be Tom Guilfoyle, who is as solid an outfielder as you can get.

“He’s great defensively and the kind of kid you can put in the game in the late innings. He is also showing us in the pre-season he can swing the bat too.”

Third-year veteran Jack Garrity will handle the chores in right field, with Anderson backing him up.

“We have some kids down on the JV team that can really play too,” said Earle. “It’s just a matter of numbers with all the returning players we had this year, so we kept them down there to get playing time.”

While Earle is confident he has all the parts to make another run at the title, his only concern might be over-confidence by his players.

“You worry about them getting a little complacent because they know they have so many returnees. They’ve heard people talk about them and think they are a lock for it. I just don’t want them rolling out there expecting to win every game just by showing up.”