The Chattanooga Lookouts had no shortage of teachable moments and team meetings during the first half of their Southern League season, and those may be paying off.
Just not nearly as quickly as second-year manager Doug Mientkiewicz had hoped.
“He’s been trying to get the message across to us,” Lookouts right fielder Daniel Palka said. “We have all the potential in the world and have a very good team out there, and I think he’s just made it clear that the cards have been out there and that we just need to go play them.”
Chattanooga closed a 36-34 half by winning 17 of its last 25 games. The Lookouts are off until starting the 70-game second half Thursday night at AT&T Field against the Jackson Generals, who won the league’s North Division first-half race over Chattanooga by 10 games.
There was never much doubt weeks into the season that Jackson would win the first half, but there is no doubting now that the Lookouts appear primed for a run at the second-half title and an opportunity to defend last season’s Southern League championship in September.