The goal for the Jesuit varsity baseball team is easy to remember: section champions. Coming through and finishing that goal is where the challenge comes in.

And while this year's team had some perceived weaknesses, the Marauders might be coming along at the right time to take the section once again.

Coach Joe Potulny called his team's performance "subpar" even after five straight wins, including 10-0 and 21-0 drubbings of Folsom. But it's not the offense that has the coach concerned; it's the pitching.

"I don't think things have been this unsettled since '97," Potulny said. "But that's ok, the players work really hard, they listen and are willing to make changes."

Making things easier for Jesuit is the fact that the inconsistent pitching was something the coaching staff saw coming even before the season.

"It was clear in tryouts that (pitching) would be our Achilles heel," Potulny said. "Our offense and defense are above average, but we still haven't played an exceptional game."

Despite the up and down pitching performances, Potulny sees improvements on a daily basis.

"It's happening as we speak," he said. "Guys are starting to step up. We have 11 pitchers and not all of them are going to fail or excel, but someone will pick it up."

"We are showing signs of improvement," pitcher Cameron Law said. "We had a tough time in San Jose (losses to Archbishop Mitty and Valley Christian) earlier in the year, but we are coming along."

Law, who strained the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm, is out for at least a couple more weeks where he hopes to get back on the field in the playoffs.

Law will play baseball at UC Davis in the fall. Two other Marauders also signed letters of intent: Rhys Hoskins with Sacramento State and Matt Davidson at Holy Cross.

The five-game winning streak, which has seen Jesuit outscore opponents 58-13, has given Law and his teammates reason to be optimistic.

"We are really jelling," he said. "We have always been a tight group, but our bats are starting to come alive and our defense is solid."

Jesuit clubbed archrival Rio Americano 14-6 earlier in the season, but Potulny isn't big on rivalries.

"I'm sure the players have some games that mean a little bit more than others, but I'm big on every game being the same," Potulny said.

The Marauders are tied for first in the Delta River League with a 5-1 record. If they are able to win the league, it would be the first time that Jesuit won it four years in a row. Jesuit's next game is today against Folsom at home.