Although the Palo Alto Vikings baseball team will end the season with a losing record in league and overall, they still have hopes for a strong finish to keep from falling out of the De Anza Division and into the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s lower El Camino Division next year.

With two games left, the Vikes will need to at least split the series with Mountain View this week to stay out of last place.

The SCVAL’s two baseball divisions are on an ever-rotating roster. While the team with the best record in the lower El Camino Division moves up to the De Anza, the Vikings are near the bottom of the pack in the De Anza and are in danger of moving down to the El Camino league for next year’s play.

Hidden behind their mere four league wins this year is their recent hot streak. They have won three out of their last four games and have seen definite improvement from the beginning of the season. The Vikings would love to carry over this recent success to their upcoming series.

“As much as we’d like to make a statement to others, a good finish would prove a lot to ourselves,” sophomore infielder Steven Burk said. “It’s always nice to finish a season strong.”

Coach Dave Jefferson has stressed playing good fundamental baseball from the beginning of the season. While this problem haunted the team early in the season, Jefferson can also attribute their recent victories to improved essential skills.

“If we continue to throw strikes and play fundamentally sound baseball, I know these guys can win out,” Jefferson said.

With three underclassmen on the starting roster, a possible fifth or sixth finish would establish Paly as an improved team and contender in the league in years to come.

“This year has been a coaching experience for me and a learning experience for a lot of the players,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson admits this was a learning experience and a rebuilding year of sorts, and he says a lot has been accomplished and the future looks good.

“As we get better each day, it keeps me looking forward to next year,” Jefferson said.

The season’s last games are against the Spartans, at Mountain View this Wednesday and at home Friday. Both games start at 3:30 p.m..