Boland, Crusaders prepared for district run

As Jace Boland goes, so do the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders.

After a 5-4 start to the season, the Crusaders would win 10-straight games before dropping the regular season finale to finish the season 15-4.

One of the keys to the winning streak? Jace Boland got hot at the plate.

“Jace was hitting about .175 those first nine games,” Crusaders coach Paul Sander said. “Now his average is up to .280 so that means he hit close to .400 in the last 10 games. He’s fast and he walks a lot so he’s perfect in the leadoff spot. Now, in the last five or six games especially, he’s been hitting the ball on the barrel. He’s very valuable.”

Boland said the biggest switch from the first nine games to now has been with his hands.

“I’ve been getting my hands faster to the zone,” Boland said. “I’ve just been seeing the ball way better and I’ve spent a lot of extra time in the cages.”

Boland said he relishes being in the leadoff role for his team.

“I know if I’m getting base hits they’re going to be behind me,” Boland said. “Hitting is a very contagious thing.”

Even if he doesn’t reach base to begin a game, Boland believes working a long at-bat benefits his teammates as well.

“I always make sure I’m paying good attention up there,” Boland said. “That way I know what to tell my teammates what’s happening and how the pitcher is throwing.”

As the Crusaders enter the Class 2 District 3 tournament as the No. 2 seed it’s no secret Boland will be a key piece to success.

“I think we have to work on our mindset in the first inning,” Boland said. “We’ve been struggling in the first inning. I think if we come out headstrong in the first inning and get on top then we’ll be just fine.”

Saxony Lutheran will open district play at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 12 when the Crusaders take on Puxico at Chaffee High School.

With a Saxony win over Puxico and a St. Vincent win over Bloomfield, the two teams would meet on Saturday, May 13. The two teams met on May 5 where Saxony was victorious 7-4.