With 17 games yet to be played this regular season, the Mission Bay High baseball team still has plenty of time left to turn things around having only having finished about a third of their season. The team ended up playing .500 ball last year ending with a 15-15 record overall (6-6 in league) and are hoping to do better this year.
“We’re still figuring out where we are going,” said head coach Dennis Gildehaus. “We’ve improved with our bats and we need to get settled with our defense. Our pitching is starting to get settled so there’s definitely room for improvement and I think we’re going to start seeing some results here pretty soon.”
After starting off splitting their first four games with victories over Chula Vista and University City, the team suffered their longest losing streak of the season dropping four straight to San Marcos, Francis Parker back to back, and Mar Vista. They were able to end that streak thanks to their 3-0 win over Monte Vista High School on March 11, which was their second shutout victory of the season with the first coming on Feb. 25 after blowing out University City 9-0.
“They’re all important as far as power rankings and the playoffs,” Gildehaus added. “I think we’ll contend for a league championship, I hope we’re playing our best baseball then. We’re looking forward to league that’s for sure.”
The league schedule for Mission Bay kicks off on April 6 with back-to-back games against San Diego High and their following league games not coming until April 20 and 22 versus Morse High. The team will then face off against Canyon Hills on April 27 and 29 closing the regular season and league schedule with two games against Mira Mesa High School on May 4 and 6 followed by games against La Jolla on May 11 and 13.
“The players are happy to be outside and to play baseball, practice, and do the things we like to do,” said Gildehaus.
In between the games against San Diego and Morse, they will face off against Holtville, Alpha Charter, and Mount Miguel High along with an opponent yet to be determined. Last season, Mission Bay split their two games against Holtville and Mount Miguel but didn’t get to face Alpha Charter High School, which is based in Elverta.
