The Portage Padres finished second place in the Santa Clara Baseball League in 2015.

The Padres finished with a 9-2-1 record, and were the only team in the league to hand the first place -- and League Champs -- Minnedosa Mavericks their only loss of the year. Padres' Player Coach Tyler Butler says it was a great season, they just couldn't get by a determined Plumas team in the playoffs.

"We kind of ran into a Plumas team that's gritty, they never give up and obviously we never give up. I think we were down 13-2 in that game we tied 15-15 against them in the first game. Ended up coming back and we actually had a really good opportunity to win it in the last inning, but couldn't get that 1 extra run across."

Butler says it's starting to get to the point where it's getting a little frustrating.

"I think ultimately our goal -- like any team in the league is -- is to go to Provincials. Win the Pennant and go to Provincials -- and win -- and I think we're very close to doing that. It's disappointing to not even get to the finals again when we're around the top of the league for the past few years. Can't seem to get passed that semi final round."

Senior baseball can be a struggle to get players out to games, but Butler says they always have good commitment from the players. He adds if they do, they'll compete again in 2016.

"I think we're content with what we've got, we had about 16 to 17 guys on the roster last year, and what we have we are okay. We maybe are a little thin on pitching, but hopefully our schedule doesn't fall on the junior players schedule so we can bring out all our pitching -- hopefully every game -- and if we can do that we'll contend again for sure."

The Santa Clara Baseball League will begin in May of 2016.