Baseball | Aurora's hitters are in a hot streak as calendar turns to May

A sound mindset and an unselfish approach are enabling the Aurora baseball team to excel in the batter’s box this spring. In the last three games alone, the Greenmen have pushed across 36 runs.

Trying not to do too much at the plate is part of the success, but first-year coach Trent Dalton and his new-look Aurora coaching staff have made an impression.

Hitting coach Robbie McKinney, who also coaches the outfielders for Aurora, has a lot to do with the club’s success on offense, according to Dalton.

In Aurora’s 10-5 Suburban League American Conference home victory over Revere Friday afternoon, the Greenman had nine hits by nine different players.

“Our balance up and down the entire lineup has been tremendous,” said Dalton, whose club improved to 5-1 in league action after the win over the Minutemen, who reached a Division II district final last year.

“I think our balance throughout the team and guys coming off the bench have done a great job, and these kids are really buying into our approach, which was set up by Robbie McKinney,” added Dalton. “Robbie has done a great job in getting the guys in the right mindset and our approach has been fantastic."

Dalton’s West Virginia ties paid dividends. McKinney was a star hitter as a three-year veteran at Davis & Elkins College.

“He is one of the all-time hit leaders at Davis & Elkins, but his knowledge of the game and the mindset he creates for our hitters is tremendous,” said Dalton. “Our hitting has been amazing this year.”

Aurora also had a 16-6 road league win in five innings at Cuyahoga Falls (1-11) on April 26 and a 10-0 league shutout over visiting Copley (3-10) the day before.

The Greenmen (6-3) also plated seven runs through six innings when a league home clash against Tallmadge was suspended due to darkness on April 28. Aurora was down 9-7 in the top half of the seventh inning in a game that will be completed on May 9.

“Our kids have done great at knowing their job when they come to the plate — they are hunting the fastball, seeing the ball well when it’s up in the zone, and they have a good mindset with situational hitting and moving runners,” said Dalton.

A great example of producing in the moment came when senior A.J. Alexander came off the Aurora bench in the fifth inning and hit a two-out single over the first baseman’s head.

“A.J. does not have many at-bats this year, but maybe two or three, but he is always ready and he was able to be focused and have a great at-bat for us,” said Dalton. “A.J. is a hard worker and I was excited for him. I was proud of the way he focused.”

In addition to nine different players collecting a hit, Aurora also had six players with an RBI and seven stolen bases.

On the mound, sophomore Nate Fletcher gained his first varsity win as he struck out seven batters in four innings of work.

Senior Jack Cardaman is continuing to produce for Aurora’s electric part of the batting order as one of the table setters up top in the lineup. He had three stolen bases, three runs scored, two RBIs and a double.

Tyler Fernandez, a senior, had a double and one RBI while a host of Greenmen had one hit and one RBI — senior Ryan Weber, plus juniors Sam Retton (also had a steal), Sam Bianco, and Ben Schechterman, who also had two steals.

Despite a bruised hand injury, senior Anthony Dolata contributed with a double and a run.

“We got a scare when Anthony was injured, but he’s a tough kid,” said Dalton.

Bianco and Schechterman starred in the victory at Falls.

The red-hot Bianco went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, a run, and a steal while Schechterman was 4-for-4 with four RBIs, two runs, and a double.

“Sam has done a tremendous job of picking things up and has really stepped up his offense,” said Dalton. “He puts the ball in play and has really worked his way into the lineup and moving up into the fifth spot in the order.”

Weber is having a great year. He went 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBIs and a steal while junior Nathan Balkissoon was 2-for-3 with a triple and a run. He also pitched well against Revere. Cardaman was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a double and a run.

As junior Nolan Just picked up his second pitching victory, junior Andrew Eichenauer and Dolata each had two runs, a hit, and one RBI.

Schechterman showed why he is an Ohio State recruit as he tossed a complete game shutout and four-hitter against Copley. He struck out nine batters and added two RBIs at the plate.

“These kids come to work every day and are focused,” said Dalton. “I have trust and faith in these kids.”

Knocking in two runs with a pair of hits, Bianco also had a double while Fernandez had two RBIs and a double, and Cardaman had a career-high four walks, two runs, an RBI and a steal.

Weber had three stolen bases, a hit and one run while Retton added an RBI.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Aurora Greenmen baseball report for May 4