St. Joseph-by-the-Sea Vikings secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fordham Prep in a thrilling game that came down to the final at-bat. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th inning, John Gano was hit by a pitch, driving in the winning run and breaking a 1-1 tie. This triumph elevates Sea’s CHSAA record to 6-3 and their overall record to an impressive 11-4.
In a remarkable turn of events, Juan Soto’s colossal contract, signed at the tail end of 2023, continues to astound. Experts speculate that Soto’s performance could potentially eclipse that of renowned star Shohei Ohtani. While Ohtani’s deal includes a salary of $2 million per season from 2024 to 2033 and a substantial payment of $680 million from 2034 to 2043, its value for payroll implications and luxury tax thresholds is capped at $460 million. In contrast, Soto’s impressive start with the New York Yankees, boasting a batting average of .322/.439/.552, has led some to believe that his worth may soon surpass Ohtani’s.
Ronald Acuña Jr., the reigning National League MVP, has set a new franchise record for the Atlanta Braves with 190 career stolen bases. The four-time All-Star surpassed the previous record of 189, held by Rafael Furcal. Acuña reached the milestone on Monday, becoming the Braves’ all-time steals leader in just his sixth season with the team. Despite a slow start to the season in terms of power, Acuña remains a force on the base paths, ranking second in the league with 10 steals. The Braves’ right fielder is now just 50 steals behind Hank Aaron (240) on the Braves’ all-time list and 397th in MLB history.
As of Tuesday, April 23, the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference season stat leaders have emerged across ten statistical categories, including hits, doubles, triples, extra-base hits, home runs, runs, RBI, stolen bases, innings pitched, and strikeouts. These statistics are based on data reported by coaches to njschoolsports.com, showcasing the top performers in the conference.
The Big North Conference in New Jersey high school baseball recently released its season stat leaders in ten categories as of April 16th, 2023. These statistics are based on data reported by coaches to njschoolsports.com.
Check out the latest statistical leaders for the Greater Middlesex Conference baseball season as of Tuesday, April 23. These numbers are based on stats reported by coaches to njschoolsports.com.
The St. Louis Cardinals have started the 2024 season with a disappointing 10-13 record, and one of the main reasons for their struggles has been an inability to get clutch hits and make good contact with the ball. The Cardinals are currently fifth-worst in the league in runs scored with just 81, and they have a team batting average of .220. When runners are in scoring position, their batting average drops to .201, and with the bases loaded, it falls to .118. The Cardinals have also struggled to make hard contact, with just 36.7% of their batted balls being hit at 95 mph or higher. This has led to the Cardinals being third-worst in the league in barrels per plate appearance and second-worst in weak contact percentage. Despite these struggles, Cardinals management remains confident that the team will start hitting. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said, “It’s really just about being patient. These guys know what they’re doing, they know how to do it. In time we think it’s going to work out.”
Dylan Bowen, the sophomore shortstop for Hanover Central, is making a name for himself as a top-ranked player. Despite being in the shadow of his older brother, Bowen has worked tirelessly to improve his game, gaining 25 pounds and focusing on hitting the sweet spot. His dedication has resulted in impressive batting numbers and a key role in Hanover Central’s success.
Numerous high schools across Southern California have achieved academic excellence in baseball and softball, with many teams earning impressive GPAs and posting strong academic performances. Here are the top performers in each sport:
In the current landscape of baseball, the traditional workhorse pitcher is becoming an increasingly rare sight. Pitchers are averaging just over 5 innings per start, with only a handful completing seven innings or more. This decline is partly due to injuries, the use of openers, and a reluctance to let weaker starters face an opposing lineup a third time. While there are understandable reasons for this trend, it is a sad reality for those who appreciate the art of a pitcher dominating a game deep into the late innings.
