A 1-3 record during a recent Arizona trip might not look so hot, but Ridgeview players feel it will help them as they enter Intermountain Conference play.

“It helped our team have better chemistry than we had last year,” said junior Trevor Wilson, who has been the Ravens’ top pitcher so far this season and also plays outfielder. “When we get to tougher games, we’ll have been through more as a team. We’ll work together and pull through.”

Ridgeview defeated Palmer (Colorado) 13-3 March 21 in its first game during the Coach Bob Invitational in Arizona before losing 8-3 to Chatfield (Colorado). They also lost 9-3 to Millennium and 1-0 to Boulder Creek, both Arizona teams.

Fourth-year coach Joshua Davis says the trip helped strengthen team chemistry going into the league season, which began April 5 at Summit. The Ravens play their first IMC home game at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, also against Summit.

“We’re already seeing the kids getting along better and wanting to hang out more,” Davis said. “We learned a lot about ourselves. We were truly big leaguers for a while — no school, four big games.”

The out-of-state tournament experience is helping on the field, said senior shortstop George Mendazona, a two-time all-state selection and last year’s IMC player of the year.

“We didn’t really hit the ball all that well, but we are a little more aggressive, and the guys are more confident,” he said.

The tournament showed the team it can compete with anyone, Wilson said.

“In Arizona, we were facing teams from schools with 2,100 kids, and we have 900 and were still competitive,” he said. “It shows a lot about us and what we put in.”

Ridgeview went on to snap its three-game losing streak with a 6-2 March 30 home victory against Barlow, a game in which the Ravens scored all their runs during the bottom of the third inning.

Ridgeview then fell 8-7 on April 1 at defending state champion Hood River Valley.

Davis said he has been pleased with the Ravens’ defense and pitching, particularly Wilson, who had a complete-game victory against Barlow and was solid during the 1-0 loss in Arizona.

But the offense has to catch up.

The work the team put in during the offseason and outside of practice should help it hit its stride in conference play, Davis said. Among the advantages Ridgeview has is the use of a batting cage at Mendazona’s home.

“The two, two-and-a-half hours you have (for practice) a day just isn’t enough time to really get ready,” Davis said. “Guys can go hit at 8 o’clock at night or 10 in the morning to get some work in.”

Players are noticing the difference because of the batting cage, Wilson said.

“This season you could just see everyone’s swings improve,” he said.

Mendazona, who will play for Oregon State next year, looks forward to a strong finish to his high-school play.

“I hope the guys continue to improve together,” he said. “I’m trying to be a good leader and help us win a league or state title. Hopefully, we can get it done.”

Ridgeview sits 10th in the state Class 5A rankings, according to the Oregon School Activities Association. That ranks behind No. 3 Redmond and No. 4 Summit in IMC. No. 18 Bend could also be challenging.

“We’ve got a tough conference ahead, but our preseason has been a good challenge for us,” Davis said.

With a 6-10 conference record in 2015, the Ravens finished two games behind Redmond for the third and final IMC postseason spot.

The players feel they can make up the difference this time.

“This is a tough league for sure, but we’re right in the mix, I think,” said junior outfielder J.T. Edmondson.

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com