After going below .500 for the past four seasons, the Washington Wild Things baseball team are looking to turn things around this season. They won their division back in 2007, and have been falling ever since. Now, head coach Bart Zeller and the Wild Things are aiming to win their 6th division title.
After being swept in their first series against the Schaumburg Boomers by a collective score of 11-8, the Wild Things have since won seven of their last eight contests. Washington is now tied atop the East Division standings with the Evansville Otters.
Pitching has been the strong point for the Wild Things so far this season. Starting pitcher Justin Hill has been nearly untouchable from the mound so far. In 17.0 innings, he’s given up eight hits, struck out nine, and only walked three. He has an ERA of 0.52 and has a record of 2-0, including a complete game shutout so far this season. He leads all starting pitchers in the East Division in ERA. Gary Lee is pitching at the same level so far. Lee is 2-0 and has given up eight hits and struck out twelve through fourteen innings. He also has a complete game shutout early in the season.
Offensively, outfielder Gus Benusa is leading the way with 15 hits. He’s hitting .326 with one double, one triple, two long balls and eight RBI’s. He also has four stolen bases on the year. He leads the team in runs, crossing the plate eleven times already, along with hits, triples, home runs and RBI’s. Infielder CJ Beatty is also coming along nicely, raking in twelve hits and driving in eight runs.
The Wild Things have scored 58 runs already this season, ranking them 4th in the division. They’re also fourth in the division in home runs with 10. One important stat to keep in mind is the fact that Washington is leading the division in earned runs on the pitching side, with only 32.
The Wild Things have won three straight and will finish up a series with the Joliet Slammers tonight then travel to take on the Windy City ThunderBolts.
Photo Credit: ACT Global Sports
