This baseball season has been a mixed bag for 10th-ranked Creighton Prep baseball. The Junior Jays are currently 15-11 and have been hovering just above .500 all season. There have been highs, lows, and lots to unpack as we near the end of the season.

The Junior Jays have a very solid offense, averaging 7.4 runs per game. Outfielder and pitcher Mike Wheelock leads the team with 22 RBIs and five home runs. His five home runs are third in Class A, and he tied a Nebraska State record with three home runs in one game against Bellevue East.

Outfielder Cal Anthony leads the team in batting average with a .457 average. Wheelock is second, batting .391, and is followed by catcher Michael Chase with a .357 average.

The Junior Jays have been very solid on the bases as well. Infielder Henry Bartholomew leads the team with 14 stolen bases, and catcher and third baseman Tony Coniglio has 11 as well.

The pitching has seen many highs and lows.

The Junior Jays have a team earned run average (ERA) of 4.34. Michael Sall, John Lisec, and Braden Caito have led the team with over 24 innings pitched each. Sall has been especially phenomenal, leading the team with 38 strikeouts while posting a 2.18 ERA.

However, these guys aren’t perfect. To make a run at state, there are a few improvements I think need to be made.

Firstly, the offense needs to get hot. While they average 7.4 runs, they’ve only scored more than six twice in their past nine outings. Even though they’ve gone 5-4 in these games, relying this much on their pitching can bite them against elite teams.

I also think the pitching depth needs to improve a bit. Having an ace like Sall is great, but multiple pitchers are needed to take a team deep into the playoffs.

I’m very excited to see these guys fight it out in districts and hopefully make it to the state. If the offense gets hot and the back end of the pitching rotation can show their strength, these Junior Jays will be a feared team come time for the playoffs.