By Joe Manganiello
SYRACUSE, NY – During a ten-game winning streak dating back to June 9, the Syracuse Junior Chiefs have platted a league-high 109 runs.
The winning streak has pushed the Junior Chiefs into first-place in the NYCBL East Division, an impressive five games ahead of the second-place Adirondack Trailblazers in the loss column. Led by the league’s best offense and a formidable pitching staff, the Junior Chiefs have taken the NYCBL by storm in just its second summer under GM Mike DiPaulo and manager Casey Scott.
Following yesterday’s 10-3 victory in Alliance Bank Stadium over the Geneva Redwings, the Junior Chiefs have won by at least seven runs in five of their eleven wins this season. The red hot Junior Chiefs have scored double-digit runs in four straight games, and in seven of their last ten games.
The Junior Chiefs are leading the league in runs per game (10.3), batting average (.337) and on-base-percentage (.437), with the second place team in each category noticeably behind their pace. Despite playing in five less games than the Utica Brewers, the Junior Chiefs have drawn more walks (76 compared to 74), driven in roughly the same number of RBIs (108 compared to 112) and seven more runs (134 compared to 127). The Junior Chiefs have seven batters hitting over .278, with nine of those players collecting at least nine hits through the first thirteen games.
Everyday shortstop Alex Sanchez Jr. is leading the NYCBL in batting average at .509 in 12 starts, hitting safely in every game while scoring a run in all but one game this season. Sanchez Jr. is one of only two players in the league with at least 27 hits and 14 RBIs.
His double-play partner, second baseman Frank Salerno, is having an astonishing season of his own. Batting .382 with 21 runs scored (3rd in the NYCBL), Salerno is one of only two players this season with double-digit walks (13) and at least half the number of strikeouts (6). He has led-off in every game this season, hitting safely in all but one game for the Junior Chiefs.
The Junior Chiefs number four hitter Dave Wolak (.345 with 20 hits) is the only player in the NYCBL with at least 19 RBIs (3rd in the NYCBL) and 19 runs (4th in the NYCBL). When Wolak scores multiple runs this season, the Junior Chiefs are 6-0 and outscoring opponents by 39 runs (74 to 35). When Wolak scores one run or less, however, the team is 5-2 and only outscoring opponents by 17 runs (60 to 43), proving his incredible value to the team.
With the phenomenal offensive accolades posted through thirteen games, it would be easy to claim that their pitching has been carried by the over-achieving offense. But the Junior Chiefs have arguably the best starting pitcher in the league, with an established four-man rotation and bullpen to boot.
Starter Alex Basso has not allowed an earned run in over 17 innings of work, as he remains the only pitcher with a perfect ERA with multiple starts this season. His three wins are tied for the league lead, and his ratio of five strikeouts for every walk (16K, 3BB) is among the best three such ratios in the league. Basso teams up with Keenan Stare, Ethan Striz and Nick May to form one of the leagues strongest rotations.
The team’s pitching staff has allowed the lowest total earned runs (58), total runs (78) and hits (112) this season. They have allowed the third-lowest batting average (.246) and fourth-lowest slugging percentage (.357). The Junior Chiefs have five pitchers with a K/9 ratio above 12.00: May (who is averaging 14.2 strikeouts per nine innings), Jed Lehman, John Silvestri, Robert Frank and Kevin Carroll.
The team plays a double-header tonight against the Utica Brewers at Alliance Bank Stadium, with scheduled start times at 5 and 8 p.m. The probable starter for game one is Striz, who is 2-0 on the season with a respectable 4.80 ERA. Both May and Basso appear to be unavailable for game two, as they would be throwing on short rest, meaning Scott will probably choose a member of the bullpen for a spot start.
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