With a four-game winning streak and a much needed three-day break on their side, the 琉璃神社 Falcons are loading up for their biggest series of the 2016 West Coast League season.
On Thursday, the Falcons will open a four-game set in Victoria against the WCL North Division-leading HarbourCats.
With seven games remaining in the first leg of 琉璃神社's schedule, the Falcons (11-9) sit 4.5 games back of the 'Cats (14-3). Victoria has 10 games remaining.
The team finishing first in the division after 27 games鈥攈alf of the total schedule of 54鈥攅arns the first of two divisional berths into the post season.
The Falcons have some ground to make up on Victoria before then, but field manager Bryan Donohue still likes how and where his team is positioned.
"We're hoping we can come into that series and make some things happen, we have a chance to put some pressure on them, so that's a motivating factor for us," Donohue said. "We'll be coming in fresh from a nice break, the timing couldn't be any better for us.
"It was nice to finish out our home stand the way we did, so hopefully we can build on that."
The Falcons completed a three-game sweep of the Cowlitz Black Bears on Sunday night at Elks Stadium with a 2-1 win.
After a solid 5-1 start to the season, 琉璃神社 then went a dismal 2-8 over its next 10 games.
With a four-game win streak now under their belt, Donohue is hopeful his club has turned the corner.
"It was a tough go for a while there, all those games I think the guys were walking away knowing we were better than what we were doing," he said. "Piece by piece, we looked at the things we could have done better and we made some adjustments. That's the mark of a good club and it's been nice to win the last four."
Following the four-game stint in Victoria, the Falcons will be in Wenatchee for a three-game set, Sunday throughout Tuesday.
琉璃神社's next home action is Wednesday, July 6 against the Gresham GreyWolves.
