It has been a gut-wrenching week for your Blanchet varsity baseball team since our last report, dropping 2 of 4 games by a single run and ultimately going 1 for 4 on the week.

All three of the team’s crushing defeats can be attributed to their predominant season long struggle, inconsistency on the plate. Delivering substantial hitting performances on a consistent, game-to game basis has been an area of concern for the Braves all season.

Last week, following a strong eight hit, six run performance in a road win against West Seattle, the team delivered an inferior one hit, zero run performance in a loss at home to Eastside. This week, following an imposing 21 hit, 15 run performance in a win at home against Rainier Beach, the team delivered a mere three hit, two run performance in a road loss to Ingraham.

Just as the team seems to be getting in stride with their hitting in one game, it subsides in the next game and the team is left dumbfounded. These instances, among others, serve as a testament to the team’s demon of inconsistent offense.

“To get better going forward, we can get more engaged in our practices and hit of live pitching to try and strengthen our offense” said Senior Alex Merrywell. “Just getting some more swings in off of live pitching will be really beneficial to our performance I think. Honestly the best thing we can do is just stick with what we know and keep how we’ve been doing since the beginning of the season.”

With an array of different losses riddling the team’s week, weather they were comebacks that fell just short, or late game collapses by the defense; Delivering substantial hitting performances on a consistent, game-to game basis will remain a lingering issue until the team can break through.

Currently sitting in 5th place in the 3A Metro (District) Standings and holding a projected 24 seed in the Washington Class 3A playoff picture, the team is very aware that playing strong down the stretch and getting crucial wins will be imperative to success in their postseason endeavors.

The Braves will look to avenge their road loss to Ingraham this past Wednesday, April 20th in an immediate rematch on their home turf this Friday, April 22nd. Obviously no game is a given, but it would be appalling to say the least if the team dropped both of their regular season contests to the 6-10, 13th in Metro Ingraham Ram’s.

“Obviously the Ingraham loss was a disappointing one” said Junior Kyle Moore. “A positive that can be taken away from the game is that it reminded us that anything can happen in any given matchup. It was important for us to learn this lesson as we get close to the playoffs because it reminded us that we always need to put our best foot forward and come out competing in every game.”

Looking forward to the final week of the regular season, the team views their upcoming matchup with the O’Dea Fighting Irish, who currently sit in 5th place in the 3A Metro (District) Standings, as a potential statement game heading into the postseason. O’Dea has given the Braves a handful of problems in years past, beating Blanchet in their past 5 consecutive matchups.

“I think a statement game we have coming up would be the O’Dea game next Monday” said Junior Tommy Vail. “If we win that game it would definitely make a statement to the rest of the Metro league because it’ll give us a lot of momentum going into the playoffs because that’s our second to last game. To win the game we’ll need to have good pitching on Monday and luckily I’m pitching on Monday, so that responsibility will be in my hands. The team is definitely looking to secure that win next week.

Assuming both teams win their matchups Friday, the two teams will be deadlocked in the wins as the final week of the begins. This occurrence will present both teams with a golden opportunity to make a jump in the Washington Class 3A playoff seeding chart, as a win over their opponent for either team will surely be viewed as a high profile win in their resume.

The Braves take on Friday afternoon at home with Junior, Dylan Lamb taking the mound for the first pitch at 3:30. Come down to Lower Woodland to watch the team avenge their disappointing loss to Ingraham and make a final push for success as the playoffs quickly approach.