As we roll into the last two weeks of spring, the Navegadores find themselves facing a week of games almost bereft of actual competition.

Game 26, at Soles: An immensely frustrating game. Despite Benji Valdez hitting his third home run of the spring (again, he hit one in an entire LBPC season last year), he also got caught stealing and dropped a ball. Four different Navegadores had two hits apiece, but they kept grounding into double plays or waiting until there were two outs to make things happen. Baseball.
Game 27, vs. Cuervos: Excellent bounceback. Downie walked an uncharacteristic two for only three strikeouts, but he still went into the seventh before handing things over to Paz, who whipsawed four outs and bridged to Varela. Del Castillo, Shrdlu and Kalsakau continued their hot streak, with Ceinture and Santiago driving in the other two runs.
Game 28, at Lobos: When the Navegadores finally broke through in the 4th, it looked like they had it—until Miguel García crushed a three-run homer off Luckwell to make it a whole new ballgame. Luckily, good defense and a Vidal Santiago three-hit game kept them in it, and Vipperla and Gottmo combined to finish the game off.
Game 29, vs. Patriotas: They're making a habit of not scoring nearly enough runs off terrible teams, but when Balloon's on like this, it hardly matters. Joren Roos gave up the only Lares run of the game and was pulled for Hess, before Varela's scoreless ninth locked down his third save. Benji Valdez got in a three-hit game, with Feaster and Salmerón also contributing.
Game 30, at Valencianos: Marrero's bounceback outing went probably even better than he wished. He only lasted 5.1 before getting into trouble, but Quinlevan and Katoll each worked four outs, and if not for Vipperla deciding to try and blow the game, it would've been a truly spotless outing for the staff. Varela notched his fourth save and lowered his ERA to 3.38, while on the offensive side, it was Frank del Castillo's turn for a three-hit, 3-SB game, with Feaster and Balk this time sharing in the production.
Game 31, vs. Combatientes: How 17 hits result in just 6 runs is beyond us. Downie, typically brilliant, gave up his first home run of the spring, but the solo shot was the only stain in a 7 IP, three-hit, two-walk, five-strikeout appearance. By that point, Benji Valdez's third straight multi-hit game, combined with newly-minted Rob Feaster's three hits and the six Ceinture and Santiago put up, was an onslaught Cabo Rojo could not contain.
Game 32, at Palomas: You want to get positive? Let's get positive. Del Castillo put up three hits, and backup 1B Underwood, hitting #2 for the first time ever, put up two of his own. Kwame Mafole, starting for the first time in a while, had three hits of his own. If they'd struck out a couple fewer times, they probably could've done even more damage against one of the best teams in Liga Betances, and it was their much-vaunted starting pitcher that got the runs on his ledger. Luckwell just failed to live up to his name, that's all. Paz, Gottmo and Quinlevan all protected a deficit that, by any rights, should have been far, far worse.

Players of the Week

Position Player: RF #14 Frank "Diablo Rojo" del Castillo (🇲🇽)

After his earlier slump during spring, Diablo Rojo is back in a big way—he went 12-25 over the past week, including two doubles, scoring four runs and driving in one, on top of drawing three walks against no strikeouts. The only knock on his play this week has been his 60% basestealing rate.

Pitcher: RHP #2 Ted "Loony Balloony" Balloon (🇺🇸)

Yes, he only pitched the one start, and yes, during that start he gave up a balk, but he also pitched seven shutout innings in which he gave up two hits and two walks, lowering his spring ERA to 2.66 while slashing .316/.354/.368. A Ted Balloon with his control back is a two-way weapon this club will sorely need.

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