Marysville infielder Anders Green fields and throws a runner out at first base in the Drakes’ 10-2 loss on Friday, July 19.

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Marysville Drakes continued to drop in the Pacific Division standings, and playoff position slipped again after they went 1-5 last week from Sunday, July 14, through Saturday, July 20.

A few weeks ago, Marysville was one of the hottest teams in the Pacific Division and in second place, as they went 8-2 from the last week of June through the first weekend of July, but since July 9, the Drakes have dropped eight of their last 11 games.

Marysville manager Bill Rogan expressed to Messenger Publishing Group that they have not been playing good baseball the last couple of weeks, and was visibly frustrated with the 10-2 loss on Friday, July 19, against Dublin.

Marysville infielder Jumpei Ohashi connects with a ball during the Drakes’ 4-1 loss to San Rafael on Wednesday, July 17.

“I am waiting for that game to bust out of our slump where we blow up the scoreboard,” Rogan said.

There were opposing big innings and low offensive production from the Drakes last week as they had double-digit hits in one of their six games. They were making contact on a consistent basis, but they couldn’t get anything to drop on the field for a hit.

Dublin extended their win streak to six against Marysville on July 19, and were in the fourth and final playoff position as play concluded on Saturday, July 20: just a couple games behind the Drakes for the third spot.

Marysville pitcher Garrett Mos throws a pitch during the Drakes’ 10-2 defeat to Dublin on Friday, July 19.

While Marysville headed into the final week of the regular season needing one victory to clinch the first playoff berth in club history, positive momentum is important and will be a big key for a successful playoff run.

The positive of needing to win one of the six final games is to get just one, but seedings become a factor between playing the defending champions (San Rafael) or a team where they have had success in beating this year (Bakersfield). 

Although there was a glimmer of hope for the Drakes’ to be the second seed in the Pacific Division playoffs, they would have had to have gone 6-0 and have Bakersfield lose all of their remaining seven games.

Although the odds weren’t in Marysville’s favor, the Drakes did finish the season with a six-game win streak last year to make a push for the playoffs just to come up a game short of a playoff birth.

MPG observed Rogan’s frustration at the plate as Marysville encountered multiple strikeouts from the hitter’s box as they averaged eight per game last week.

“We’re not facing guys like Nolan Ryan or Randy Johnson out here,” Rogan said. “We’re facing Pecos League pitchers and need to get the ball in play earlier in the count.”

Rogan added that the Drakes can get on a hot streak and roll through teams like they did a few weeks ago, but they need to bring their best effort on a daily basis to the field.

Last week, Marysville was outscored 53-18, but they still had the fifth best earned run average (ERA) in the entire Pecos League heading into play on Monday, July 22, with a 5.71 ERA.

If the Drakes were going to hold onto the third seed for the Pacific Division playoffs, the defense needed to be cleaner in the final week of the season. 

Rogan has used multiple lineups on the infield during the year and has always told his guys no spots are permanent, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he shifted everything around the final week of the season.

Marysville will host their final two home games tonight, July 26, and tomorrow, July 27, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. at Bryant Field.