'Even-keeled' Marysville baseball has turned its season around
MARYSVILLE — At first glance, the Marysville baseball team's 12-9 overall record appears nondescript. But a closer look reveals something much different.
Entering Monday, the Vikings have won five straight games and 10 of their last 13, which includes a 5-0 mark in the MAC Blue since May 1.
Not bad for a team that started 2-6.
"Defensively, we've been doing a really good job," Marysville coach Caleb Dalman said. "Our outfield, especially, has been solid. The pitching staff has been doing well and gives us an opportunity to win every game. At times, we were missing that key hit or that key bunt. But we've found a way to do it. Whether it be a bunt or a pinch-hit single up the middle — it's little things like that where guys are stepping up to get it done."
An 8-4 conference record has Marysville tied with Fraser for second place in the Blue, trailing St. Clair Shores Lakeview (10-2) with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
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Make no mistake, attaining a league title remains an uphill battle. But that hasn't stopped the Vikings from playing their best baseball of the year.
"We all trust each other," senior first baseman RJ Clark said. "And that comes from practice, working hard and staying focused. When the game comes down to those close moments, we have confidence (in each other)."
That was evident in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Port Huron, which saw freshman pitcher Brady Wright throw a complete-game shutout.
"It's an honor to be on varsity as a freshman," Wright said. "I've just got to play to the level of (my teammates) and go play baseball. I'm just doing what I can to help us get better."
During the 2-6 start, Marysville was giving up 6.3 runs per game. In the time since, the team is allowing 2.7.
"They're pretty even-keeled all the way through," Dalman said of his players. "Baseball is one of those games where getting over excited or down too much isn't helpful. You have a lot of thinking time. So we do a pretty good job of just staying even keel."
"These guys all listen to (the team leaders) really well," Clark said. "They're all willing to take criticism and use it towards bettering themselves. It's really fun to be a leader for these guys. It's a great group."
The Vikings close conference play this week with a three-game set against Fraser, which begins at home on Monday. League title or not, they want to continue their surge into the MHSAA district tournament. Marysville has a first-round bye and will face either St. Clair or Armada in a Division 2 semifinal on June 1.
"We have to keep trusting in each other's abilities," Clark said. "We all know what we can do and just have to leave it all out there."
"It's cliché to say, but we go one game at a time, one pitch a time," Dalman said. "If you're looking at it any other way, you're going to void that even keel we've had. Things are going to go well and things are going to go bad. But how you respond to them is the most important part. So just focusing on — and being present in — the moment is the only way to go."
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: 'Even-keeled' Marysville baseball has turned its season around
