Williamstown Wolves are occupying dangerous territory in the Baseball Victoria summer league division 1 standings.
The freefalling Wolves hold the second-worst record in the entire competition with just four wins after Sunday’s punishing 10-0 loss to Waverley.
The fact the bottom two teams will be relegated at the end of the season is not lost on Wolves coach Dean Marnell.
A sense of urgency is needed if the Wolves are to avoid the drop.
“Every game matters,” he said. “We’ve got some winnable games coming up so the ball is still in our court.
“We’ve got to find a way to get back to what we were doing earlier in the season.”
It is hard to believe this is the same Wolves outfit that toppled premiership-contending clubs Melbourne and Blackburn inside a week.
That was the middle of November and the Wolves have not won since, enduring a bumpy ride with six straight losses.
“We had a good run of form there when we beat Melbourne and Blackburn in the one week,” Marnell said. “If we can find that form again, we’ll be right.
“Our guys are keen … they were at the ballpark getting work in even in 42-degree heat last week.
“I didn’t call training – these guys took it upon themselves.
“They’re willing to do the work, but it’s just not happening for us at the moment.”
A problem area for the Wolves is their leaking of runs.
Pitching was the cornerstone of their back-to-back division 2 titles in the past two summers, but that prowess has so far not transferred to the top level.
Veteran David Asp and recruit Andrew Russell have been solid, while youngster Nathan Rogers is showing promising signs, but the depth pitchers have underperformed.
“Our pitching has been our downfall this year,” Marnell said.
“Jason Lester has really struggled, Daniel Chircop is a work in progress and Josh Lee hasn’t been as sharp as he usually is. We’ve been pretty disappointing in that department and we’ve got to pick it up.”
In the batters box, Andrew Russell has delivered as promised despite a constant battle with arm injuries.
Russell has 17 hits, second only to Aaron Green, to go with team-highs in RBIs (12), base on balls (nine, equal with Darren Pollock) and home runs (five).
“He’s been outstanding,” Marnell said. “He’s had arm issues all year and there’s times when he throws that he’s not 100 per cent but he still throws his heart out.
“If he’s healthy, he’s the best player in the competition. But he’s restricted with his arm and he’s really frustrated with that.
“He’s fitted into the club both on and off the field.”
The Wolves get no respite – Essendon, the team with the best record in the league, is their menu twice in three days next week.
Meanwhile, the undermanned Newport Rams were hammered 19-0 by Melbourne away on Sunday.
