He's a lot more than a guy with a lengthy and difficult-to-pronounce surname.

"I'm a Moon guy who has been around Moon baseball for a long time," said Tigers first-year coach Dom Santeufemio. "Between the community leagues and the [American] Legion team and the high school team, I have been around since 1982. I'd like to think that I've put my time in and I'm ready, I'm anxious for the season to start."

Santeufemio has indeed been waiting for a long time to guide the Tigers, having served as an assistant at the school since 1991.

When former coach Tom Hoffman left after last season, Santeufemio jumped at the opportunity to lead the program. After all, through his involvement in the high school, community program and the American Legion organization, he already had a sense of familiarity, which was possibly his main selling point to the administration.

And to hear it in his voice, Santeufemio, a retired USAirways employee, teeters on having a substantial case of cabin fever. Like just about every other program in the WPIAL, his Moon team has found practice time outside scarce due to the inclement weather, which seems to annually hamper the start of the high school baseball season in these parts.

"It's even tough to point out what out bright spots are and what we need to work on because of the weather to this point," he said Sunday night. "Not to have been out on the field yet makes it tough. I know this, though, we need to play defense this year and need to pitch better. Last year, we gave up far too many runs."

When the Moon Section 3-AAA season gets underway next Wednesday at West Allegheny -- weather permitting, of course -- Moon will be looking to shore up its defense from last year and bounce back from a season in which the Tigers went 8-6 and uncharacteristically missed the postseason.

A large chunk of how the Tigers do in Santeufemio's initial voyage leading a high school program will depend on three senior pitchers, Sean Holliday, Ben Sorosky and Paul Altmeyer.

"They all pitched for us last year," Santeufemio said. "The guys were kind of inning-eaters, but this season, I think they all know that we're counting on them a lot more.

"The way I am right now is that I am optimistic. I am looking at it as they all know that we expect them to go out and throw the ball well and they have to realize that. They have to realize that we're counting on them."

Santeufemio is also counting on a youthful infield to step in and play well, with Holliday (who plays first when he doesn't pitch) the lone senior starter on the diamond. Junior Casey Williams, who hit .352 last year, is scheduled to undertake the starting catching duties with junior Dan Walsh sewing up the shortstop position.

Junior Ryan Butchsle and sophomore Tommy DeAngelis are battling for the second baseman job, with both expected to see ample time at the position this season.

One name who will jump off the lineup card -- because of his youth -- is freshman Brian Walsh, slated to be the opening day third baseman. While many hesitate to pencil a ninth grader into the starting lineup, especially at a high-volume position such as third, Santeufemio didn't think twice.

"[Walsh] came in and tried out with us and, the best way to put it is that he just stood out," Santeufemio said. "There aren't too many freshman who you're going to see starting on the varsity level, but he has really shown us something.

"To be honest, he's more of a shortstop, but he's shown that he has a good arm and we're going to give him a shot at third and I'm confidant he can get it done there for us."

Moon's outfield, led by converted infielder Bob Francis, a senior who hit .357 last season, will also be counted on to make the most of its chances and flash some handy glovework behind the somewhat unproven pitching staff.

"I moved Bobby to the outfield because we needed some leadership out there," Santeufemio said. "There are a few kids who haven't played a lot out there in the outfield and I knew that in order to make us a better team, we needed to get someone out there who was going to take on a leadership role and that guy is Bobby."

Francis will be responsible with aiding in the development of seniors Nick Peterson, Brian Schmidt and Bill Divis. Although all three are seniors, none has played a substantial amount of innings for the Tigers varsity squad and, with the addition of Francis out there, Moon has a take-charge player in the outfield.

So with many of the position battles decided and players and coaches alike itching to get out on the field, there's just one thing left for Santeufemio.

"I'm just ready for that first game," he said. "I just want to get out on the field and get going."