The Hawks opened Big 8 Conference play with a pounding of the Modesto Pirates by a 16-0 score. The Hawks have put up 39 runs on 40 hits in their last two games with just seven extra base hits. 33 singles and 18 walks provide the baserunners and the Hawks have been excellent so far this season getting the hit to bring in the runners.
Coach Tony Bloomfield laments the lack of power, " Yeah we're doing good right now with the key hits, but I just wish we could supply some power to go along with the little hits."
The age old thought in baseball is put the ball in play and anything can happen and when you hit .445 and add in the walks, good things will happen, like the last two games.
Also when the pitching staff can hold the opposition to two runs or less,you have a better than average chance of winning. Steven Talbert started for the Hawks and went 5 innings giving up just 2 hits and one walk to even his record at 2-2 on the season. Talbert lowered his era to 1.25 with his sparkling effort. Daniel Vitoria, Lucas Still, Marcus Helm, and Donovan Harrison all pitched an inning after Talbert exited with Still giving up the only hit the bullpen gave up and Helm's walk the only free pass the relievers handed out. The Hawks are the third best Big 8 team in the state era wise and they are 13th in the state overall in that catagory.
The Hawks hitters right now are following the old, see the ball, hit the ball routine. Right now though it must look like a beach ball coming at them as they just meet it for the hits.
Against Modesto they must have had huge eyes as Peyton Wheatley succinctly understated their day, "yeah, we hit the ball pretty well all day."
Indeed.
Third baseman Brooks Day was the hit leader along with Damien Chavez as they each had 4 hits. Day drove in 3 runs on the day as did Billy Rockefeller who homered again as he collected two hits off the Pirates pitching staff. Rockefeller may be the hottest Hawk right now as he is hitting .428 in the six game winning streak with 15 rbi's and 3 homeruns with 3 doubles, and as of this writing is the RBI leader in the state with his 25. Chavez drove in one with his four hit day.
Jordan Estes and Peyton Wheatley joined Rockefeller with two hits apiece with Wheatley driving in one as well. Brian Morley drove in two runs with his one hit putting him in a tie for 19th place in the state rbi leaders and he collected three walks as well.
Daniel Enes went 1 for 1 with a walk while driving in a run for the Hawks while Trevor Ray continued his hot play of late with a 1 for 4 day driving in two runs and being patient at the plate working to Pirates for two walks. Ray has a .444 average on the season being the leadoff man the Hawks are looking for.
The win moves the Hawks to 9-6 on the year after starting out 3-6 in their first 9 games. The Hawks are 1-0 in conference play with a home game against Modesto on Thursday at Conway Field at 2pm.