As grades and lack of interest decimate team rosters, AAA JV baseball has been reduced to five schools — Lowell, Lincoln, Galileo, Balboa and Washington. And since the playoff system is meant for a ten-team-or-more league, the top four reach the postseason, a designation once considered an impressive accomplishment.

But not this season. Galileo finished the season 1-10, with its only win coming from a forfeit against Wallenberg, which dropped out of the league four games into the season. With the Lions unable to win a game against an actual opponent, the other four teams had a cake-walk into the playoffs.

Despite a lack of league games, Lowell still emerged as the team to beat. After an early season loss against Washington on March 19, the Cardinals stormed back, steam-rolling all opponents in their tracks until they collided with the Eagles again on April 16. With their one blemish this season fresh in their minds, the Cardinals came ready to play.

RICHARD RODRIN Junior Rita Belilovskaya drives the ball in a victory over Wallenberg on April 19. The Cardinals have clinched a spot in the playoffs, which start on May 7.

Washington never had a chance. Lowell jumped out to a 7-0 lead and didn’t look back. Starting freshman pitcher Nate Gilchrist held the potent Eagle offense scoreless for six innings. After Washington was able to score six runs in the seventh, freshman Chris Chen was called on with two out to close the door. This he did quickly, retiring the first batter he faced to cement Lowell’s revenge.

The second Washington game was Lowell’s season in a nutshell. With an absence of power in their lineup, the Cardinals relied on speed to score runs. On the other side of the ball, they looked on as co-aces Gilchrist and Chen mowed down the opposition.

The biggest change in the starting lineup was the emergence of freshman catcher Luke Wilson (no relation to the Old School star). Wilson arrived at Lowell amid great expectations, yet he started off the season on the bench while sophomore catcher Eitan Neumark enjoyed the majority of playing time. Wilson’s big break came when Neumark suffered a season-ending broken arm after being hit by a pitch.

Wilson called a great game against the Eagles, living up to some of those expectations. Dubbed the catcher of the future, he is one of many freshman who has a chance to make the varsity team next year. Lowell’s next game is May 2, the opening round of the playoffs. The time, place and opponent have yet to be determined.