The Spartans creamed the visitors from Rainier Beach last Wednesday, battling through the soggy, chilly afternoon contest for a 13-3 win.

But you wouldn’t know it to look at the somber team huddle afterward.

“We definitely saw some things on the field there that give us an opportunity to address little situations, that need to change, that make big impacts on the game,” said Spartan Head Coach Simon Pollack.

“Things like pitchers fielding their positions, getting over to first; things like running base runners back to the bag they came from; things like following your throw when you’re in a run.”

Fundamentals, Pollack said, were the cause of much discussion this season — and they always have been.

“It’s the same stuff that you talk to them about every day from the time they’re 9 years old,” he laughed. “And that stuff, still, in baseball, that stuff ends up being the little difference in the game.”

The difference in the score last week began to show itself early, as the Spartans led 5-0 by the end of the third inning.

Though Rainier Beach managed a slight return in the final two innings, BHS, too, seemed to find its stride at the plate and increased that early game advantage dramatically.

Several Spartan sluggers gave good showings while at bat.

Blake Swanson managed one run for his one at bat. Jack Niehaus got two runs and two at bats, as did Evan Ferguson who also managed two hits.

Carter Kraus finished the game with one run for his one at bat. Brooks Wallace saw one at bat as well and Max Thomas saw two. Matthew Spence also claimed one at bat during the game, Jack O’Neill claimed one run for his one at bat, Dawson Gonwick scored a run and Cam Daniels managed one hit, one run and one at bat.

Gareth Grindeland lead the team in at bats with four; he also managed one run and two hits.

David Wellbrock saw two at bats and so did Jason Snare, who also scored a run. Trent Loughnane finished with three at bats and one run and Truman Miller scored one run as well.

Despite the final point deficit in their favor, Pollack said there was an obvious lack of focus on the field throughout the game.

“I thought we had some poor plate discipline at times,” he said. “Frankly, that’s been somewhat of an Achilles heel for us, and that’s always a difficult thing.

“We had a bunch of fly outs in the first three innings and that can’t happen,” he added. “You need to put the ball in play and make people make a play on you.”

The shift toward more observant, focused playing was one that would have to come from within the roster, Pollack said, and would not be possible without the cooperation of the senior team members.

“I love our group of seniors, but there was a little bit of a breakdown of focus in the game in the dugout — and I think that’s to the team’s detriment,” he explained. “I would say it’s the perception of the opponent in this case that did that. Nothing against [Rainier Beach] in particular, but [our] perception of the opponent.”