Print edition: 
Mitch Caster's locker is untouched, his chair folded and a No. 20 placard in place in the Eck Stadium locker room.
Wichita State pitcher Grant Muncrief wants it to stay that way.
"I sure hope so," Muncrief said. "I think it needs to."
Caster died late last month in a car accident as he was driving to Wichita to start his senior year as a pitcher and outfielder. The Shockers start fall practice today, and it will be another time when Caster's memory is heavy. He won't be forgotten by this group. The players wear a white wristband with his name and "Angel in the Outfield" stamped on it. Designs for a uniform patch rest on a desk in the baseball office.
"I'm certain every time we put that on and see that patch, I think it's going to inspire us to play," outfielder Kevin Hall said. "Not only for Mitch, but to remember that every day we have is a gift and we need to make the most out of it, because you never know about tomorrow."
The Shockers took a day off from senior-led practices after Caster's death. Then they resumed, believing Caster would have wanted them to keep working. The first few days plodded along and baseball seemed trivial.
"We were there, but we weren't," Muncrief said. "Guys had a lot on their minds."
Hall said a memorial service on Aug. 27 gave the team some closure. Getting back to the routine of school and practice soothed nerves. WSU helped by making counselors available, and Hall said the team leaders made sure nobody had to grieve alone.
"When I heard the news (on Aug. 23), I just wanted to go to class because I didn't want to sit at home and look at pictures or think about it too much," Hall said. "At the end of the day, we knew Mitch would want us back out here, working as hard as possible."
The Shockers need to work hard this fall to recover from a disappointing two-season run. The 2009 Shockers slipped into an NCAA regional with a record barely above .500. Last season, WSU went 41-19 and didn't make a regional after losing in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title game.
This season's team starts with some solid pieces for a contender, but is also short on experience and relief pitching.
Weekend pitchers Tim Kelley and Charlie Lowell are back, as is mid-week starter Josh Smith. The lineup starts with the double-digit home run potential of Preston Springer and Johnny Coy. They combined for 18 homers in 2010, giving WSU its most potent returning duo since 2004. Shortstop Tyler Grimes is a two-season starter. Junior Chris O'Brien should seize the starting job at catcher.
The outfield is under a total renovation after the loss of Ryan Jones, Bret Bascue and Travis Bennett. Jones started three seasons in center and right. Bascue hit .421 with 10 home runs as a senior and Bennett hit .333 in his one season at WSU. Hall, a junior centerfielder, is the only returner with more than a few starts in the outfield at WSU.
The outfield, and the batting order, took a hit when transfer Scott Schebler signed with the Dodgers in August. Coaches counted on him to play left and hit for power. The Shockers did add an outfielder at the start of school when Baylor transfer Don Lambert received a waiver from the NCAA granting him immediate eligibility.
"All the positions are up for grabs," Hall said. "Whoever hits is going to play. That's the way it's always been, and that's the way it's going to be."
Coach Gene Stephenson will start with the basics, an approach that might be a challenge for a group with three seniors, two of whom are pitchers.
"I want attention to detail to be the byword," he said. "Any position player, wherever he's weakest, our hope will be that he will work on all those things he doesn't do as well, so that he can become a more complete player."
