Port Huron Northern baseball embraces 'next-pitch' mentality to overcome slow start

Don't worry about the Port Huron Northern baseball team's 3-7 record. The Huskies aren't panicking. They know they're talented and that the season has only just begun.

"We feel like we have a really, really good team," Northern coach Nate Manis said. "But we haven't been healthy and that's hurt (us). So we're finally seeing what we can do once we're getting our guys on the field healthy and ready to go."

Northern has gotten a glimpse of its potential in the past week. After an 0-4 start, the Huskies are 3-3 in their last six games. 

"Our record doesn't show the team that we are," Northern catcher Logan Sheffer said. "But we're going to have no problem bouncing back the last half of the season."

"It's next-pitch (mentality)," Northern pitcher Dylan Bloink said. "Trusting your ability, talents and the work you put in during the offseason. So that short-term memory is huge."

Bloink has found his groove as of late. The sophomore threw a complete-game shutout in the Huskies' 5-0 victory over Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse on Friday. He finished with nine strikeouts while allowing just one walk.

"He's been throwing great on the mound," Manis said. "He accounts for (two) of our wins so far this year."

Bloink's growth will compliment senior starting pitcher Owen Johnson, who is the team's ace. Together they anchor Northern's rotation.

"We feel like we have an all-around really good pitching staff," Manis said. "Owen competes every time he takes the mound. (Bloink and Johnson) are our guys and we're just waiting for the offense to come around."

Northern's offense is led by infielder Derek Ruiz. He's batting .310 with nine hits and five RBIs on the young season. The senior also has an on-base percentage of .429.

"Derek is off to a hot start hitting and playing the field," Manis said. "So we're excited to see how he finishes off the year."

Now that the active roster is starting to look more familiar, the Huskies are putting a slow start behind them. They feel they're headed in the right direction entering May.

"I think the thing we're driving home right now is energy," Sheffer said. "The thing that led to (Friday's) win and Dylan's really good start was the energy that we had going in. That's been big for us lately — just trying to maintain that energy throughout the game."

"Having the some of the guys back that we were missing was huge," Bloink said. "They've made a difference."

"We need to eliminate some mental errors — specifically strikeouts," Manis said. "We're cutting down on them and we're dangerous on the base path. So if we put the ball into play I think we're going to win a lot of games the second half of the year."

Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.