AUBURN - They weren't just some team that won a minor league baseball title.

The 2007 Auburn Doubledays wasn't a team of destiny, either. They didn't get lucky and they didn't have one player that carried them to the New York-Penn League championship.

They were just good.

In every facet of the game, the Doubledays excelled over just about everyone en route to their 4-1 title win over Brooklyn nine months ago.

There was never a lull in the season that saw Auburn take it's sixth straight Pinckney Division title. The team's pitching grew from average to superb over the course of the summer, as did the offensive production, which saw more than its fair share of home runs in postseasons victories over Oneonta and Brooklyn.

So ask Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg how it feels to be back in Auburn for lucky season No. 7 and he doesn't miss a beat.

“It's like hurricane season - inevitable,” he joked on Sunday. “It's the calm before the storm.”

A storm that he weathers better than just about anyone else.

Winning a half dozen consecutive league titles with vastly different teams is an unlikely feat for anyone. But Holmberg and company have a knack for molding young players into contenders.

Pitching coach Antonio Caceres patiently developed one of the best league throwing units, led by former No. 1 pick Brett Cecil, who has already climbed the ranks to Class AA New Hampshire.

Cecil earned the win in the title game and in three of the four Doubledays' shutout wins, he was part of the winning combination.

Also aiding in the successful season was speedster Darin Mastroianni and catcher JP Arencibia, both of whom belted homers in the final win of the season.

“I've got to give this organization credit, also,” Holmberg said. “We had a Brett Cecil and a JP Arencibia here all last year. That helped us go on the run that we had. Whether they thought it was the right thing to do or what - they're both in (Class) AA now. Good players are going to help that kind of progress.”

Even with one of the best 2007 overall records in the league, Holmberg still sees the room for improvement.

“I kept a list of games that we could have won and should've won,” he said. “We should've won eight more and we got flat out beat in nine game. We had no chance in those ones, when we lost 10-0, 8-1. If you take the should've, could've wins, we'd have had 65 wins. But you still have to run the race, you have to have players to win ballgames and you have to try and execute plays.”

Something the Doubledays will attempt, with just six returning players. Dan O'Brien, Kyle Walter and Scott Leffler return on the mound, while Steve Condotta, Leance Soto and Carlos Vasquez look to reclaim the infield. Back from the 2006 squad is quick-footed outfielder Jonathan Baksh.

While back-to-back titles isn't impossible for this century's Doubledays dynasty, it is premature.

And not something Holmberg is thinking about in June - especially since Auburn has started the last few seasons in shaky fashion.

“(Winning the title last year) was a relief of sorts, but I've never felt the pressure that I had to win one,” Holmberg said. “There is plenty of pressure in all of the games that we play, like in the bottom of the ninth inning in a playoff game with Tri-City and losing to Staten Island. There are certainly games that break your heart.”

Then there are ones that nearly cause a heart attack. Excluding the handful of games that the Doubledays rallied from behind to win - or lose by an inch - Auburn was second best in the New York-Penn League in winning games decided by one run and tallied a 6-1 record in extra inning contests. Earning close victories will be an integral ingredient in the defending champs' recipe for success in 2008.

“Players are acclimated and they know what is expected of them,” Holmberg said.

Like good fundamentals and even better decision making. Another championship ring would be a bonus to anyone's jewelry collection, but that's something to worry about down the road.

For now, as the season begins tonight, the Doubledays organization can still bask in the fact that they're the ones to beat. After all, it's a feeling that only hit their manager a couple of months ago.

“It wasn't until spring training when the organization was giving out the season's awards,” Holmberg said. “When everyone was acknowledged and they lifted the banner that was created, it was incredible.”