After last seasons disappointing ending, going out in the second round of the losers bracket, the Trojans baseball team is looking for revenge. Going into the last weekend of the regular season the Trojans are 33-7 overall (17-3 in Conference) and have already booked their ticket to the Northwest Athletic Conference Championships (NWACC).

As the number one seed, the Trojans already have their spot in the Championships. But before the start of the championships, cross-region playoff spots will ensue. Four three-team bracket-style tournaments will be hosted by each of the four regions’ #2 teams based on regular-season league finish. The #3 and #4  teams from two other regions will also get the opportunity to qualify.

After the cross-region playoffs, the NWACC will begin. Last season the Trojans had to go through the playoffs and were underdogs in the first round matchup against Lower Columbia College, who went on to win the tournament.

This year the Trojans are favorites for the championship. They are the best team in the North Conference and the second best team in NWAC, behind Tacoma from the West Conference. With four games left in the season, all the Trojans had to do was win two games to clinch the top spot in the north. And that’s exactly what they did.

Prior to the game, Trojans Pitcher, Brian Pino was asked if there was a feeling of revenge reflecting on what happened last year. He responded, “We can’t look at last year.” He continued, “We don’t like to look back unless we learn. So we either win or we learn.”

The Trojans went 2-2 against Edmonds last weekend. They went 1-1 both home and away against Edmonds.

Brian is from Monroe, WA, but this is Brian’s first year with the Trojans, after playing at Shasta College (CA) last year. He shared why he is so happy to be back, saying “the environment that the team has. We have such a tight bond between the teammates. It’s a bond like no other.”

When Head Coach JoJo Howie was asked how he thinks the players feel, he responded, “I’m sure they are feeling great. They’re playing good baseball… I know they are excited to punch their fourth straight year into that NWAC tournament.”

After last seasons defeat to Edmonds in the second round of the losers bracket, Coach Howie stated “… We felt terrible. Our team, the culture, and the program we have expectations to win and win championships. So, you know, its high expectations. You’re not going to reach them all the time. But when we don’t we feel upset about it and when we win we’re excited about it.”

Now that the season is over the standings are set. Everett won the north division. Lower Columbia College, last years winners, took the west division. Spokane took the east and Linn-Benton took the South.

Edmonds, Bellevue, and Skagit Valley are headed to the playoffs from the North. In the East Yakima Valley, Columbia Basin, and Big Bend qualified for the playoffs. Tacoma, Pierce, and Centralia qualified from the West. While Mt. Hood, Lane, and Chemeketa qualified from the South.

The Trojans will take on the East Super Region Winner on May 23rd at 4:35 pm Story Field in Longview, Washington.