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Sanchez pushing for postseason bid
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Posted on Nov 28 2006
After winning their third game of the season, the defending champion Pirates find themselves in an unlikely position—outside of the pennant race and hoping to simply make the playoffs.
While the slow start placed his team behind the 8-ball, skipper Craig Sanchez said that he is proud of his boys and that they are coming into their own for the first time since the team formed a couple of months ago.
“Right now they’re starting to click so hopefully they keep going. That’s all that matters man,” he said.
The Pirates relied on the steady arm of youngster Josh Dela Cruz who went the distance against the Manhoben Young Guns. Sanchez praised his pitcher for his efforts on the mound and said that Dela Cruz was Monday night’s key to victory.
“My pitching. The pitching was there, he held them down. Josh did great tonight,” he said.
Making the win even more impressive was that the Pirates are only able to practice once each week due to scheduling conflicts and difficulties involved with obtaining time on Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.
“We only practice once a week because the field is never available so what we do is go up to the Airport Field and deal with what we have,” he said.
Their practice this week will have to focus on hitting as the Pirates return to the Oleai Sports Complex to challenge the first place Hustlers on Friday, Dec. 1. Sanchez said that his boys will be gunning for their fourth win of the season because the Pirates will need it if they want to participate in postseason play.
“Now that [the Hustlers are] on top I have to go all out on them. I gotta get them man. My goal now is just to get in the playoffs. I can’t have a chance at the pennant so I’ll deal with the playoffs,” he said.
The skipper said that he understands the gravity of the game and that he hopes his sluggers show up swinging against the pennant favorites. If not, their playoff chances could be squashed on the diamond.
“It’s gonna be a big game. I hope my boys come out with the bats,” said Sanchez.
