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With Playoffs in Sight, Gators Start Hitting
Poor run support has been a pitching staff infection for the Fauquier Gators.
That may have finally been cured, though, by a little rest over the recent Valley Baseball League all-star break.
Since the July 12 all-star exhibition, the resurgent Gators (19-16) have averaged more than eight hits per game over a five-game stretch and scored at least five runs in four of those contests. During that stretch, they lost just one game, won three by one run and their latest victory was a 7-1 road win Monday over the Haymarket Senators.
“Our offense is a little more vigorous,” Fauquier manager Paul Koch said. “It’s not just the hits, but it’s guys having quality at bats in important spots. Even if they don’t get a hit, doing something important in the offense."
Fauquier also beat Front Royal, 6-3, amassing 14 hits in its final game before the all-star break, giving it five wins in its last six games to move into a three-way tie for first place in the North Division with an 8-7 record.
After Monday, the Gators' 19 wins was the second-most in the VBL with nine games remaining. Still, with only four wins separating 10 of the 12 teams, the playoff picture remains unclear.
Each division winner and runner-up in the three-division VBL will get a playoff bid this season, plus wild card spots will go to the two teams with the next-best overall records.
Despite a hot stretch at the plate, the Fauquier offense still ranks only seventh in the VBL with 162 runs scored. They also have the league’s worst team batting average at .247, but they seem poised to climb the ranks. Even a slight improvement could propel Fauquier to the top of the standings because it already has the best defense in the VBL with a league-low 40 errors and a league-high .971 fielding percentage and league-best 25 runners caught stealing...See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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