During the offseason, UConn coach Jim Penders tracks the progress of his players competing in summer baseball leagues.

With his Huskies spread around the country, Penders keeps informed by looking up their statistics on team websites or hearing news from his assistants who call or check in by text with players.

He never worries about those competing for Mystic Schooners in the New England Collegiate Baseball League because of they're in good hands with manager Phil Orbe and his staff.

"Phil is a great guy to work with because he trusts you," Penders said. "But he also has a great eye for talent himself and developing that talent. You always feel like if you can get more guys in his hands to work with, you're going to be in a good place and they're going to come back to you better. It's always good working with him."

Three current UConn players and one future Husky are on the Mystic roster. Shortstop Aaron Hill, a former Fitch High School standout, pitchers Sam Nepiarsky and Joseph Rivera all played in Storrs last season while former UConn Avery Point ace Doug Domnarski of Stonington will join the program this fall.

The Schooners have built strong connections with several college baseball programs. St. John's, Wagner and Marist also sent multiple players to Mystic this summer. About 20 colleges are represented on the roster.

Thanks to the relationships that Orbe and pitching coach Dennis Long have forged, it's getting easier each year to fill the roster with quality players and people.

"After a rough start and kind of being the new kids on the block, they're a really respected franchise," Penders said. "There's great stability there. And when you have great people involved like Dennis and Phil, you know that your kids are going to be treated well and they're going to have a quality experience.

"So we're going to try to keep sending guys there every year."

The process of filling a roster begins long before the NECBL season begins in early June.

In fact, Orbe already has two UConn players signed for next summer.

"This thing happens earlier and earlier (each year)," Orbe said. "Our roster was done last summer by end of August."

College coaches make recommendations to their players as far as placement. Penders prefers to place them where they have a good chance to succeed.

"We've always tried to place guys in leagues in which we believe they can be all-stars, if everything breaks right," Penders said. "We never want to send a guy out who might be reaching for that level. ... With that mentality, then you're going to be more trusted the next time you call that general manager or that skipper to get them placed."

Penders has seen the benefits of his players learning from a different voice and different perspective during the summer.

Matt Barnes, who's bounced back and forth between the majors and minors with the Boston Red Sox this season, once picked up a new pitch from a teammate in the Cape Cod League.

"Matt Barnes came back with a change-up that he learned from a kid from St. John's at Wareham one summer," Penders said. "That's fantastic. I don't care how you get better. But it's nice to have quality voices being put in their ear when they're away from us."

Hill is another prime example.

After struggling at the plate last season at UConn, Hill has restored his confidence and lifted his batting average while playing for the Schooners. He was selected to play in the NECBL all-star game for the second straight year.

"He had rough year with us, but he's obviously back in a comfortable position and he's working really hard — he always does that — and he's having success again," Penders said. "It looks like he's clicking on all cylinders again and hopefully he'll come back that much better."

There's a game plan in place for every player during the summer.

For Nepiarsky, he's working on transitioning from a reliever to a starter.

Orbe has an open line of communication with UConn pitching coach Jeff Hourigan and assistant coaches Josh MacDonald to update them about Nepiarsky's progress.

Some college coaches will stop by Mystic. A St. John's assistant recently made the trip to check in on catcher Anthony Fava and infielder Jesse Berardi.

When necessary, Orbe will reach out to a college coach with a concern. He made a call about Nebraska pitcher Jake Meyers, who recently had to miss a start because of an elbow issue.

"Communication is really the key with these college guys," Orbe said. "And they trust us, that's why we keep getting players from the same college because of our relationship with them."

There has been a few sticky situations. With a deep roster of mainly Division I players, Orbe has to find a way to keep everyone happy as far as playing time and still win.

Once July hits, Orbe shortens the lineup rotation. It's not uncommon for a player to complain about spending too much time on the bench.

"I'd like to have to opportunity to come back here and coach next summer, so we try to win some games along the way," Orbe said. "And the college coaches understand that the kids have to perform. ... I have an obligation to our ownership group and our management to try to win some games. To be honest, it's delicate balance."

With one of the best records in the NECBL, Mystic has managed a winning balance act this season.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe