The Lee High baseball team, going through a rebuilding season under head coach John Dowling, has struggled to win ball games this season. But the Lancers have been in many of their games before tough late innings have led to losses.

The Lancers, following a 7-3 Patriot District loss at West Potomac earlier this week on Tuesday, April 17, were 3-10 overall this season and 0-7 in district play.

“In district play we have struggled,” said Dowling, who is in his first season as the Lancers’ head coach. “T.C. [Williams] is probably the team most comparable to us talent wise [in the district] this year, and we lost that game late on a few defensive miscues and a two- run home run. We’ve been in every one of our games through three to four innings, but manage to have a mistake somewhere that ends up snowballing into another, and another.”

The district game with T.C. Williams, a tough 9-8 loss, took place just prior to spring break on March 27 in Alexandria. Other than that game with the Titans and this week’s game with West Potomac, Lee has lost lopsided affairs to district opponents.

But the team is continuing to work towards playing district opponents closer. Dowling said his players are practicing well and learning as the season moves on.

“We’re certainly seeing growth since the beginning of the year, but change will take time,” said Dowling, who in recent years was part of the baseball coaching staff at Forest Park High (Woodbridge). “I am confident we are headed in the right direction and have the right people in place to help turn things around. It is just going to take some time to develop a new culture.”

Lee’s wins this season have come over Edison, 5-2, on March 16; at home versus Wakefield High, 18-7, on April 2; and at home over Brentsville District (Nokesville), 9-0, over spring break week. The Lancers’ non-district, close game losses include an 8-6 home setback to Washington-Lee in the season opener on March 15, and a 5-3 defeat at Battlefield High (Haymarket) on March 31.

One bright spot for Lee has been the strong play of sophomore center fielder Garrett Shondelmyer, who is batting at around the .500 mark and playing outstanding defense.

“He’s batting .500 which is a nice surprise and he is hands down, even as only a sophomore, the best defensive center fielder I’ve had the pleasure of coaching,” said Dowling.

Lee is scheduled to play a district game at Lake Braddock this Friday night, April 20 at 6:30. Next week, the Lancers are scheduled to play district home games versus South County on Tuesday night, April 24, and T.C. Williams on Friday night, April 27. Both contests are set to begin at 6:30.