LOWER LAKE >>The Lower Lake Trojans were twice as good last season as in 2014. That may not be saying much, but it was a small step in the right direction.
After watching his Trojans struggle to a 2-19 overall record in his first season, including 0-14 in North Central League I play, Lower Lake head coach John McCarthy Sr. at least had the satisfaction of winning twice as many games, two of them in league, in 2015. While the Trojans’ overall mark of 4-18 wasn’t a huge improvement, the team’s overall competitiveness improved slightly.
Now, with the 2016 season at hand, all eyes are on the Trojans to see if they can graduate from the ranks of the bad to the ranks of the decent. McCarthy will get his first look Thursday when the Trojans host the Upper Lake Cougars in a non-league game at 3:30 p.m.
Upper Lake, under the direction of second-year coach EJ Crandall, is also looking to take a step up this season after going 3-17 in 2015. There’s certainly more interest in the sport at the Northshore school, which recently added a junior varsity team.
Both programs have struggled in recent years. Lower Lake snapped a 38-game league losing streak a year ago although the Trojans still finished tied with Fort Bragg for last in the North Central League I standings at 2-12. Upper Lake was last in the NCL II a year ago at 1-11.
Lower Lake hits the road Tuesday to play Pierce at Arbuckle while Upper Lake travels to Kelseyville.
