One of the most important games for the Iowa State Baseball Club team will not be against Iowa or Northern Iowa, but instead, against itself.

The Cyclones open their 2007 season with an intrasquad game this week, providing them with the rare occasion of facing real competition and playing outdoors.

“It’s our first chance to be outside and it’s our first chance to see what we have in terms of new players,” said junior pitcher and first baseman Bryan Junge. “It will give our team an opportunity to get a little experience going into the season.”

The Cyclones officially kick off the 2007 season when they travel to Cedar Rapids on March 24 for a doubleheader against Iowa. This week’s team matchup marks the first time the Cyclones have played outdoors since wrapping up a 5-7 2006 season. Club president and second baseman Bryan Scholar said because his team lacks many of the indoor opportunities that Iowa and several other clubs have, his team will be at a disadvantage when they open the season. Since they began practicing in November, the Cyclones have been limited to workouts at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center.

“We’re really limited to what we can do indoors,” Scholar said. “We go outside and it’s a hundred percent different. It’s definitely something that sets us back a lot before the start of the season.”

What the Cyclones lack in experience outdoors this season, they’ll make up in terms of who they bring back from last season. 10 of the 20 members on this season’s roster are returning from last season, making what Scholar believes to be a better all-around team.

“We are a lot deeper than we were last year,” he said. “We have a lot of guys who are easy to work with.”

The Cyclones bring back a steady offense that includes Jim Smaga, Kyle Syfert, Trevor Ennenga and P.J. Richards, who led the team with 18 stolen bases last year. Junge and Blake Wilken will head up the pitching staff and Scholar expects a few newcomers to contribute this season.

Iowa State will spend most of its season away from Cap Timm Field, playing three weekend series on the road, including trips to Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota State.

With long trips and late-night dinners, Scholar said his team will gain most of its experience away from home.

“That brings us together more than anything,” he said. “Living in a hotel room and having to put up with each other, it’s great.”

The Cyclones will play host to Central Plains North Conference rival and last year’s conference champion Nebraska on April 21 and 22.

“Our goal every year is just to compete with them,” said Scholar. “And hopefully win a couple of games against them.”

Iowa State will find out just how competitive it can be when it opens the season Friday, traveling to Cedar Rapids to play host to rival Iowa.

They will return to Ames on Sunday to host the Hawkeyes for a doubleheader at Cap Timm Field at noon. For Junge, their most important game may still be against themselves.

“We’ll definitely learn a lot about our team this week,” said Junge.