The California franchise in the Fayette County League might have been in the midst of a five-game losing streak heading into Thursday's action. It might have been middling along with a record near .500 and in the middle of the pack in the league standings.

But with a deep and talented pitching staff -- and a lineup that has shown signs of waking up in recent weeks -- California just needs its shot in the postseason because the three-, five- or seven-game series format might work to its advantage.

"I think we're a dangerous team," manager Ryan Encapera said. "I don't think other teams want to play us because we can beat anybody."

California has been a streaky team this year. It has had a four-game winning streak, a four-game losing streak and a stretch of two shutout victories in a row followed by the five-game skid it carried into a scheduled game Thursday against Bud Murphy's.

"It's been a season of streaks," said Encapera, a California Area High School and California University of Pennsylvania alum who started the team last season. "We need to be more consistent. We've been in every game we've lost. Hopefully, this week we can hit our way out of it and pitch our way out of it."

California is one of the younger teams in the league, with most of its key players in college -- and a handful having played high school ball a month or two ago. That might explain some inconsistency.

Though the league format this season has every team qualify for the postseason, seeding could be important. Encapera is striving to make sure his team finishes at least in the top half.

The team is in the midst of a stretch that has it playing its final 10 regular-season games over 12 days. While that would spell trouble for a lot of teams, California believes it has the pitching depth to turn that into an advantage.

"We have a good group of guys," Encapera said. "We have plenty of pitching, so we should be able to survive."

Encapera calls Matt Stay, a 2006 Beth-Center graduate, the "ace" of a staff that is entirely righthanded. He led the team in wins heading into the weekend. Encapera, who graduated from high school in 1997 and college in 2002, had a staff-low 2.83 ERA. He has tossed a one-hitter.

Recent Bentworth High School graduate Derek Jansante is 1-1 as a starter, and Travis Van Olst, who will be a senior at California Area, also pitches significant innings. Andy Galis and Rob Ramsey serve as the top two relievers. Ramsey is a Belle Vernon native who graduated from Geibel and plays basketball at California University. Galis is a 2005 California High graduate.

Encapera believes there are enough good arms for the team to compete with anyone come playoff time.

"We will see what happens," he said. "Our hitting has got to come around. We have to come up with clutch hits. We haven't had good hitting; we've been in a slump as a team."

Galis, California's center fielder and leadoff hitter, was leading the team with a .333 average and two home runs. His brother, Rob, a catcher, also was hitting .333.

California High alumnus Jason Dayner, who plays a variety of positions for the Fayette County League team, was batting .296 through Wednesday. Left fielder Ryan Kabana, who bats No. 2 in the lineup, was fourth on the team in average at .281.

Encapera serves as the designated hitter when he is not pitching and is a middle-of-the-lineup presence. Charleroi native Justin Deutsch and 2006 California High graduate Jason Britton split time at shortstop, with Deutsch having one of the team's hotter bats in recent games.

First baseman/outfielder Neil Pascarella, who graduated from Ringgold High School last year, hits third in the order, "He swings a heavy bat," Encapera said. "He's probably the team's best overall hitter."

Second baseman Garett Balis, a Beth-Center graduate, also is a key component to the offense.

"I think one of our strengths is we are young," said Encapera. "We have relatively good speed and play good defense. We're in every game. We need to avoid mistakes that can cost you."