Lafayette Aviators baseball sees string of wins thanks to dominant pitching
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Crisp blue skies and cool, comfortable summer weather are an invitation to enjoy a baseball game. The Aviators' three-game home stand last week had ideal weather that attracted thousands of fans to watch the team.
The club had a successful outing as it won all three games, nabbing first place of the Wabash River Division. The Aviators were able to win two matchups against Johnstown before defeating rival Danville to cap off the undefeated home stand.
The driving force behind the Aviator wins June 7-9 revolved around dominant pitching that trickled down from the starting pitchers to the relief pitchers. In the two matchups against the Johnstown Mill Rats, the pitching staff struck out a total of 26 batters in the two-game series. The first game against Johnstown. all four pitchers stuck out multiple batters, with starting pitcher Nick Yager and relief pitcher Drew Switzer tying for the game high of four strikeouts, each displaying the depth and talent of the Aviator pitching staff.
Dominant pitching continued into the second game against the Mill Rats with starting pitcher Gyeongju Kim carving up the Mill Rats lineup, compiling nine strike outs in five near-flawless innings. The pitching staff racked up 13 strikeouts for the second straight game as the Aviators pulled away to defeat Johnstown 9-3.
Kim’s performance displayed a clinic on accurately locating pitches in areas to produce outs, whether groundouts or strikeouts. Kim relinquished three hits and one walk while he was on the mound as the volume of strikeouts demonstrated the command he had for his pitches that prevented the Mill Rats offense from getting into a rhythm.
Effective pitching matriculated into the last game of the three-game home stand in a matchup with the Danville Dans as relief pitchers helped prevent runners from reaching base to lead the team to another victory. Starting pitcher Logan Danzeisen struggled, giving four walks and allowing two runs in his three and two-thirds innings with the game tied at two runs. Ryan Mintz came in relief for Danzeisen and took control, only allowing two hits and striking out four batters as the Aviators won the game.
The pitching staff led the way to another win and accumulated double digit strikeouts, registering 12 between four pitchers that participated in the game. The Aviators' pitching kept the team in games when the offense struggled to get runners on base or score runs as the team struck out a total of 38 batters in the three home games. Aviator starting pitcher Gyeongju Kim ranks in the top five for strikeouts in the Prospect League with 16 on the year, and Connor Fries sits tied for first in saves with three this season in his four opportunities.
In six home games for the Aviators, the team's ERA stands at a 4.00 with a K/9 of 11.17. Comparing the home and away statistics show that pitchers perform better at home compared to playing on the road possessing a higher ERA, K/9 and significantly more strikeouts at home than the road. The home attendance record ranks in the top five across the conference and the league and indicates the importance the crowd plays and how they inspire the team to play better.
The key for the Aviators' three victories was the pitching as well as the support of the home crowd. The showdown with Danville brought out 1,542 spectators, a season high, and both matchups with Johnstown being well attended, drawing nearly a thousand people after stormy weather. Both fed off each other, propelling the team to victory.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Pitchers lead Lafayatte Aviators to string of wins in summer baseball
