When 27-year head coach Greg Wilker and his Lake Flyers have gazed southward from their baseball diamond toward State Rt. 795 this season, something is absent on the horizon.

It is, or was, the high school building where the players used to attend class, and where Wilker had taught business since arriving in the fall of 1983.

It is, or was, the Lake gymnasium, where the players once lockered, where championship banners had been hung, and where athletic hall-of-fame plaques were once mounted.

Those were remnants of Lake's past from before the devastating tornado crumbled those buildings the night of June 5.

"I'm used to it now, but the first time driving by it, it was hard for me to handle," Wilker said of the empty spaces along Route 795. "I've been out here 28 years, and the first few weeks were tough. Even during football season, seeing that wrecking ball was tough.

"We try not to dwell on it or talk about it too much, but I think this has drawn the kids closer together. They understand the importance of spending time together."

As Wilker's Flyers were putting the finishing touches on a 4-1 Suburban Lakes League victory over perennial league power Elmwood last Wednesday, they weren't thinking much about the past.

Instead, senior players Kurt McKee, Casey Witt, R.J. Schultz, and Wes Socie, juniors Josh Tantari, Ryan Kohlhofer, Corey Hotmer, Jake Materni, Thomas Nichols, Jake Bandeen, Casey Conine, and Nathan Scanlan, and freshman Jayce Vancena were firmly tuned in on one of their season goals.

"We talked during the winter time and the kids would really like to be able to hang a banner in the new gym when the new school goes up," said Wilker, who has guided the Flyers to more than 400 victories. "That's important to these kids, and I think they've really focused on that."

If they can survive a late-season gantlet of seven big games (five in SLL play) compressed into an 11-day span, these forward-thinking Flyers just might be able to do that.

Last Wednesday's win over Elmwood was the third of these seven, taking Lake to a 19-3 overall record on the season, and a perfect 8-0 two-thirds of the way through the 12-game SLL schedule.

The next SLL test came last Friday at Genoa.

The pivotal stretch began on May 9 with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning of a 4-3 SLL win over visiting Gibsonburg. It continued the next night with an 8-0 win over league foe Woodmore in a Division III sectional tournament final at Elmwood.

The Flyers were scheduled for SLL contests Monday against Otsego and Tuesday against Genoa (both at home) and, barring any league rainouts, are set to conclude SLL play Wednesday night at Elmwood.

The next tournament test is a district semifinal against state-ranked Tinora Thursday night at Defiance High School.

"As a team, we're excited," Tantari said. "We like playing these big games. It's a lot better being in first place than last. We know we need to play good baseball, especially against Genoa and Elmwood. We're going to try to keep playing well."

Through its first 22 games -- and Wilker hopes, for the remainder of the season -- Lake's fortunes have been linked to both the Flyers' baseball talents and its team chemistry.

"Togetherness," Wilker said of the team's key element, "pulling together and feeding off of each other's energy. They really like being around each other and they really enjoy the game and enjoy competing.

"They have outstanding chemistry. That's what you're going to remember 10 years from now -- the friends that you've made."

Entering last week's Elmwood game, McKee, the center fielder and fifth batter in the lineup, was leading the team in hitting with a .408 average with eight doubles and 12 RBIs.

"This is the closest team that I've ever played on," McKee said. "We're all friends, and friendship is definitely a big part of it when you're playing a game like baseball.

"The [tornado damage] definitely drew us closer together. Those of us that play three sports have been close ever since football. Since last summer in baseball, when we were playing away [games] always, we've spent a lot of time on the road riding to different places. I guess that bonding on the road trips definitely helped."

Tantari, a pitcher, second baseman, and outfielder, like McKee also played varsity football and basketball for the Flyers. From the No. 2 spot in the order, Tantari was hitting .369 and was 5-0 in pitching, with a 2.55 earned run average.

"I'd have to say it drew us closer together," Tantari said, "considering that no team [in this area] has ever gone through anything like this before.

"It happened during summer ball for us last year, so we weren't even able to play on our home field.

"It's different not coming out of that locker room anymore. We have memories from that locker room. But, once we get on the field, you don't really think about it much."

Shortstop and No. 3 hitter Kohlhofer -- whose father, Mike Kohlhofer, played for Wilker in his first season (1985) as head coach -- was next at .390 with team highs of three home runs and 23 RBIs.

Cleanup hitter Hotmer, an outfielder-catcher, was batting .362 with two homers and 16 RBIs, and leadoff hitter Witt, a pitcher-second baseman, was at .315 with a team-high 16 stolen bases.

Along with their teammates, Lake's first five hitters have done well, according to Wilker, who liked their potential coming in.

"We've battled," Wilker said. "I don't want to say I'm surprised with the record we have because we knew we'd be competitive. But, you just never know from one year to the next.

"I wouldn't say we've overachieved, but we have won some games that we were fortunate to win."

Trying to top Elmwood and Genoa in what will be the final season of the soon to be disbanded SLL is no small feat.

In the 20 previous seasons since 1991, defending league champion Elmwood has won 15 SLL baseball titles, including 11 outright crowns. In the past 15 years, Genoa has garnered five SLL championships, sharing the 1996 and 1999 titles with Elmwood, and taking first place alone in 2006, 2007, and 2009.

Lake's only baseball titles since joining the SLL came in 2001 and 2002, when the Flyers tied Elmwood for the top spot, and in 2003, when they claimed their only outright crown.

"This is definitely a big thing for me because I haven't won an SLL title for any of my sports from my freshman year all the way up to now," McKee said of the SLL quest. "This is my last chance to get it, and the last chance for an SLL title for anyone. So, this would be a good way to go out with a bang."

Since the high school building was destroyed, Lake students have attended classes at an Owens Community College facility, and the players commute to the baseball field for practices and home games.

Wilker said the high school and gym are expected to be completed by the 2012-13 school year, when he still plans to be teaching and coaching.

"As long as the administration is happy, I still love being around the kids," Wilker said. "I have no plans to get out."

Contact Steve Junga at: sjunga@theblade.com or 419-724-6461.

First Published May 18, 2011, 4:30 a.m.