It’s a difficult task for a veteran club to still believe after an 0-8 start.
Ratchet up the degree of difficulty when the roster is filled with young players.
Young or old that’s the predicament Lowell’s baseball team found itself in to start the 2011 season.
“Through all of it they held a belief within themselves,” said Lowell baseball coach Juston Miller. “It hasn’t been hard for me to believe in them. We’ve loss like seven one-run games.”
The Red Arrows enter the final week of the regular season winners in 10 of their last 12 games. Their only losses were 6-3, 1-0 doubleheader losses to the number two ranked Division 1 Comets from Grand Ledge.
“They handed it to us last year at their place. This year we played two good games. Time wise they were played on Rode’s (former softball coach Bob Rodenhuse) watch. I think both games were played in less than three-and-a half hours.
Lowell (19-14, 11-4) finished second to Grand Rapids Christian in the O-K White.
The Red Arrows have been boosted by the strong pitching of sophomore Titan Anderson. “He’s been ahead of schedule. His breaking ball has been sharp, his three different types of fast balls and he’s keeping his pitches down around the knees.,” Miller said.
Lowell has also benefitted from arm of junior Jordan Drake. Both Anderson and Drake have been able to keep their ;pitch counts down. Drake has also performed at an all-league level at first base.
‘We have also had freshmen and sophomores come up and help us in the field and to motivate upper class men,” Miller explains.
At the plate the red Arrow coach days his club is driving the ball well, getting extra base hits and are working from good counts.
Lowell had five players recognized with all conference honors. They are Anderson, Drake, Will Plummer (outfielder), J.P. North (catcher), and Sam Steed (utility infielder/DH).
Earning honorable mention awards were Elliott Drain (outfielder) and Travis Gordan (DH).
Lowell’s opening round district game is against Forest Hills Central on Saturday (June 4) at East Kentwood.
