It could take Google maps to decipher the full playoff picture in the B.C. 15-under bantam AAA baseball league.
For Burnaby Braves manager Kyle Williams, the easiest combination would be four-and-oh.
Burnaby enters its last week of action looking to lock up a spot in the top-seven – with fourth place the best outcome. With four games left, the odds look in their favour.
A recent winning streak put them in good stead, but in a clot of six teams with near-identical records, two losses could be costly.
“We know going 4-0 (over the final four games) gets us in if we get no help,” said Williams of his 17-11 team. “Three wins should do it, and even 2-2 could do. But we’d rather take control.”
Since the start of June, the Braves have posted a 6-2 league record, maintaining a strong run after stumbling out of the gate 1-4 to start the season.
But their last league test was a 7-1 setback to 17-10 Richmond, where they trailed 6-0 after two innings. Five of those runs were of the unearned or unnecessary kind.
Despite the score, the pitching was solid as starter Evan Hoegler gave up just two hits while Aidan Tomalty and Jack Yaremko worked two innings each.
“For whatever reason we seem to implode once every four-or-five games defensively,” said Williams, “and it usually happens early (in the game).”
They also split a doubleheader with visiting Victoria last weekend, bouncing back from a 7-6 with an 8-1 rout.
Sam Van Snellenberg pitched a complete game in the win over Victoria, limiting the opposition to just four hits while fanning seven. Kaz Kada contributed with three hits.
That they are six games over .500 and still looking behind them, with four games to play, reveals how tight a league the 15 u AAA is.
Burnaby visits 4-22 Kamloops this weekend, hosts White Rock on Monday (6 p.m. at Kensington) and finish the regular season Tuesday in PoCo.
