Young Saints struggle through first half of season

Dropping a series 3-1 isn’t fun for any team out there. But the young Mt. Hood Saints baseball team, now 7-17 on the season, actually found some hope in an otherwise disappointing weekend in Coos Bay.

The trip down to Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) last weekend resulted in two losses on Friday and a split on Saturday, with Mt. Hood’s only win being an 11-1 rout that morning.

“Connor Newell got on with a hustle double,” said sophomore third baseman Logan Grindy, describing Saturday’s win. “We had a couple guys with timely hits and we put up five runs in the second inning. It was big. Everyone’s energy just flowed on to the next person in the lineup and we kind of just kept going with it.”

The rhythm was crucial to the Saints’ win. And they will look back on the positive, Grindy said. “Everyone felt better as a team this weekend and I think we made some strides in the right direction.”

Of course, there is still a task at hand. The Saints need to win ball games. Grindy made it clear that everyone was disgruntled over the losses, but they know they must keep their eyes looking forward.

Freshman outfielder and pitcher Evan Jones said the team has found value in more than simply skill.

“We’ve come together as a family more. We’re more prepared for this weekend and ready for our competition,” Jones said.

There is no doubt this years’ team is younger than in the past.

Mt. Hood is coming off a season with a dominating 31-14 record. The team lost some key sophomore players like Jake Thran and Ryan Degner, but the blame for its record doesn’t go directly to the inexperience and younger squad this spring, Grindy said. In fact, current players see more potential in the next part of the season.

“I think everyone on our team has a pretty good attitude… all the guys who came this year, the freshman, have always been good baseball players,” Grindy said. “We’re still playing the same game of baseball. I think towards this second half of the season we’re going to do well and hopefully get caught back up.”

Mt. Hood will battle Clackamas Community College twice today, at home, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The matchup continues tomorrow at Clackamas, as both teams try to climb their way back from the bottom of the South Region. The Cougars, 3-9, sit at the bottom of the conference while Mt. Hood is 4-8.

Conference play is where it counts for the teams. It’s still anyone’s game in the South; in just one weekend, the standings can change immensely.

Jones summed up the Saints’ mission: “We just have to get sweeps and we’ll be at the top.”