The Waterloo Bucks will try to move back into contention in the Northwoods League this season when they open at home Thursday night against Mankato. The Bucks suffered through a 2005 campaign in which they finished with a record of 22-and-46.

Dan Corbin enters his first season as general manager. He says he came on board in 2002 and they won the championship, and Corbin says he thought it must be that way every year.

But the team didn’t fare as well the next couple of years and now Corbin says it’s good to be back in contention. Corbin says they have put together a team that he feels can be successful. He says they have some quality individuals with speed and power and he thinks they have some good pitching.

Fans can get a preview tonight when the Bucks host an intrasquad game in Riverfront Stadium. Corbin says the scrimmage might morph into a home-run derby.