Blue Jackets primed for return to winning ways

Four-game “home” stand on tap

Much to the chagrin of Blue Jackets baseball coach Michael Blunck, the team’s record is 2-4. Blunck attributes their record to a couple of things.
First and foremost, the Blue Jackets hitters are striking out—a lot. Last Wednesday the Blue Jackets had 12 strikeouts in a 16-4 loss to Cedaredge. Two days later they suffered 15 strikeouts in a 10-1 loss to Hotchkiss.
“We’ve got to cut down on the number of strikeouts,” says Blunck. “I think we’re a little over-anxious at the plate.”
In addition, the Blue Jackets continue to fall behind early in games.
“It seems like we keep having to drag ourselves out of a hole,” adds Blunck.
On Monday, June 8 the Blue Jackets kicked off a four-game home stand, in Gunnison, with a rematch against Cedaredge.
Once again the team fell behind early, giving up three runs in the top of the first inning. The Blue Jackets responded in their first at bat to tie the game 3-3 and Collin Dill and Troy Pike teamed up on the mound to throw seven solid innings.
Unfortunately, Cedaredge managed to push a run across in three consecutive innings to build a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
The Blue Jackets scored two runs to cut the Cedaredge lead back down to one but a couple of fielding errors in the top of the seventh inning gave up another lone Cedaredge run that turned out to be the game-winning run, as the Blue Jackets fell 7-6.
“It was a bitter loss for me because I thought we were the better team,” says Blunck.
On the positive side, the Blue Jackets defense turned their first double play of the year, and Peter and David Bright connected for five base hits and Nolan Blunck for two base hits.
“We very easily could be 4-2—I believe we should be 4-2,” says Blunck. “The kids have to remember that we can play with any team in the league.”
The Blue Jackets will host Hotchkiss in Gunnison on Friday, June 12 at 6 p.m. and then Olathe on Monday, June 15, also at 6 p.m.