This spring will be the final season for Warwick Vets athletics, but it has the potential to be a prosperous one.

The baseball team finished 16-2 last season and, despite a disappointing playoff run, is poised to be back as one of the top squads in Division II this season. The ’Canes boast arguably the best player in D-II, junior outfielder and pitcher David Defusco.

Warwick Vets softball has one of its best rosters in recent years. It only lost a few players from last season, but returning to the field will be junior second baseman Natasha Savage and senior captains Michelle Spremulli (1B), Arietta Chevian (RF/C) and Kayla Bourbon (P).

The ’Canes may have a strong senior presence in the circle with Bourbon wearing the captain’s letter, but freshman Caitlyn Fallon has dazzled early on. She struck out 14 batters in Vets’ 4-1 win over Prout to begin the season. Vets and Prout finished with the same 9-7 record in Division II-South last season, but it appears the ’Canes have made a jump to the top team in the subdivision.

West Warwick, which went 14-2 in 2015, is fresh off a season-opening, 29-19 drubbing at the hands of Narragansett. The Wizards lost pitcher Briana Gough off their roster from last season. West Warwick dominated the South subdivision in 2015, winning it by five games over the Crusaders and the ’Canes. Their regression could mean parity, which may result in a new South leader.

Vets will look to be the team that takes advantage of West Warwick falling back down to earth. The early success of youthful players like Fallon and the battle-tested experience of the seven seniors on the roster can give the ’Canes balance. That balance can earn them a high seed in the D-II playoffs and generate momentum heading into the postseason.

As for the baseball team, it will have its hands full trying to win its first state championship since its 1994 Division I title, but it has the talent to do it. Defusco, no matter where he plays on the field, will be a spark plug for the ’Canes. He hit north of .400 last season and brought speed, defense and pitching to the table as well.

Commanding the mound will be ace David Simmons, who pitched well for the ’Canes and the New England Frozen Lemonade-Shields Post 43 legion team last year. Simmons was a key part of a loaded Vets rotation during its 16-2 regular season campaign. The ’Canes were led by No. 1 starter Shane Kittila, who was followed by Simmons, Austin Lamaire and Defusco.

This year, though, Simmons will have to anchor the staff after Kittila and Lamaire graduated. He showed growth over the summer and pitched in stressful playoff situations in the spring and summer, so he should be able to handle the duties of an ace as Vets makes another playoff push.

Also returning for the ’Canes will be senior second baseman Chris Reid and left fielder Daniel Pratt. Vets will look to see improvement out of sophomore first baseman Kyle Denis as well.

Vets Principal Gerald Habershaw said back in the fall that the last year of Vets was about “celebration.” With the talent that both the baseball and softball teams boast, there could be a lot for the ’Canes to celebrate by the end of spring.