Marysville’s Garrett Mos (1) and Sean Connolly (24) celebrate the Drakes ‘10-4 victory over Bakersfield on Wednesday, July 10.

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Marysville Drakes headed into the Pecos League All-Star Game on Sunday, July 14, six games above .500 despite dropping three of the five games they played from Sunday, July 7, through Saturday, July 13.

The five-game stretch last week was the first time Marysville faced all five of the other teams in the Pacific Division in the same week during the season.

 Marysville pitcher Tim Nichols tosses a pitch during the Drakes 8-3 loss on Saturday, July 13 to Martinez. 

The Drakes lost both of the road games during the week in Dublin and San Rafael. The two wins during the week against Bakersfield and Vallejo were huge in the sense that it proved to be the reason why Marysville was able to keep a couple-game lead over Bakersfield in the standings to stay in second place.

Although Marysville dropped the final game of the week on July 13 in an 8-3 defeat to Martinez, the Drakes stayed two games up on Bakersfield at the conclusion of play for the week.

 Marysville catcher Sean Connolly hits a runs-batted-in single with a broken bat during the Drakes’ 10-4 victory on Wednesday, July 10 against Bakersfield.

The end of the regular season for the Pacific Division in the Pecos League is near, as all six teams entered the second-to-last full week of the regular season this week and every game becomes crucial in the standings.

Marysville outfielder Joe Starick told the Dispatch that the two remaining matchups against Bakersfield are very important as the season series between them is tied at 4-4 on the year.

 Marysville infielder Micah Walker reaches for a high chopper during the Drakes’ 8-3 defeat to Martinez on Saturday, July 13.

The Drakes missed the postseason by one game last year, and for the returning players on the Marysville roster, including Starick, you feel the itch to get the redemption of making the playoffs this season.

As the entire league had July 14 off for the all-star festivities, Marysville had 12 regular season games remaining and Starick expressed to the Dispatch that a key going forward is learning how other teams are approaching them during the game and playing against them.

“From a hitter’s standpoint, it’s how we are getting pitched against; whether it’s inside or outside,” Starick said. He added that making adjustments during a game will go a long way for them in the rest of the season. 

 Marysville outfielder Joe Starick hits a line drive during the Drakes 8-3 defeat on Saturday, July 13 to Martinez.

The Drakes were six games above the fourth-place team (Dublin) for the final playoff spot. 

Marysville has a third of their remaining games against San Rafael, who is the top team in the Pacific Division, and the Drakes are 2-4 against them on the year so far. San Rafael is a team that Marysville has struggled getting wins against the past couple of seasons, but they have been competitive in every game and they had the opportunity to pull out victories. 

Starick told the Dispatch that the six games between San Rafael and Bakersfield are big for the standings’ impact between them and Bakersfield for the second seed.

The crucial part of the second seed will host the first round of the playoffs beginning on July 29, and Starick told the Dispatch that Marysville wants the advantage.

Starick expressed that playing in Marysville as a Sacramento resident means everything to him. He added that having the ability for family and friends to have the consistency to come watch them and support them playing baseball is an amazing feeling,

The Drakes have six other athletes on the roster that have ties to a local area within a 50-mile radius.

“It makes it difficult to want to play anywhere else because of the love and support we all get,” Starick said.