Bats were ringing and baseballs were hit to all parts of Don Warner Oval at Salamander last Sunday afternoon as Strikers players, returners as well as some new faces, started warming up for the 2020 Newcastle winter baseball season which, for the minor league clubs like Nelson Bay, begins in April.

"We need to hit the ground running hard this season," Nelson Bay's sixth grade captain Stephen Klum said.

After sitting out in 2018, the Strikers re-entered the competition in 2019 with a vengeance.

The sixth grade team went undefeated in the first four rounds and became the minor premiers. The club's fifth grade side were second on the table.

Both teams reached their respective grand finals only to fall a few runs short against fast finishing teams from Lake Macquarie (fifth grade) and Woodberry (sixth grade).

The club is now preparing for the the 2020 season with a strong desire to rewrite last year's grand final results, said Strikers manager Bill Marshall.

"The club has re-signed all but two of the players from the 2019 grand final squads and are looking for new talent to bolster the club's ranks," he said.

"With word of last year's successes circulating and through family contacts, the club has attracted four new players already .

"The club relies on mates and family groups forming the base of our player strength. The Turnbull family from Medowie have two sons, Connor and Tye, joining their father Ross this season on the diamond.

"The new players this season are young and bring skills from cricket, golf and even American football."

Marshall added that the Strikers needed to "hit longer and pitch faster" than the nine other clubs in the lower Hunter - from the strong Belmont club in the south to Maitland Mavericks in the west and the Seaham Storm in the north.

Anyone aged 16 and above wishing to play baseball are invited to join the Strikers training sessions at Don Waring Oval on Sunday, March 15, 22 and 29 between 2pm and 4pm.

The Strikers play their first game of the season at home on April 4.