The Hampden Academy Broncos are having another solid season. Their 8-5 record was good enough for third in the current Class A North baseball standings as of Friday. But that record doesn’t tell the whole story.
That 8-5 mark might seem like a changeup from last year’s 15-1 regular season campaign. But with a few more runs here and there, the third place Broncos could be even higher in standings heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Of those five losses, four have been by only one run.
“We’re right there with anybody,” coach Jon Perry said on Friday after an extra innings 4-3 loss to Bangor the evening before. “We know we can compete with anybody. We just, we’ve had opportunities we’ve let slip by.”
The Broncos have also fallen to Oxford Hills 9-8, Old Town 6-5 and Camden Hills 2-1 in those other one-run losses.
Perry said his team needs to learn to be more competitive and aggressive at the plate in pivotal situations.
“And, you know, that’ll come,” Perry said. “We’ve been doing a better job of late putting the ball in play, and putting pressure on the defense. But we’ve still got to improve on that.”
Perry told his team Thursday after the loss to Bangor that the game would help in the long run.
“We’ve competed in high leverage situations all year long,” Perry said. “And you know, obviously we fell on the short end of the stick last night, but those situations help you in the playoffs.”
A team is always going to have ups and downs, Perry said. And having them at this stage in the season could help prepare Hampden for the postseason. As dominant as the team’s record was during the regular season last year, the Broncos fell to Brewer in a shocking quarterfinal upset.
“It’s only going to strengthen us and make us stronger and mentally tougher during those situations,” he said about the close games so far this season. “Because we’ve been through them.”
He stressed that Class A North is a competitive league and his team will need to show up prepared ready to play each of its final three regular season games.
“You gotta bring it every day,” Perry added.
The Broncos next game is away against fourth ranked Mt. Blue in Farmington on Tuesday.
