This time of year, batting averages are starting to settle in. If you were hot to start, you’ve probably had a little cool streak. It’s the way it goes.
But Brewster’s team batting average is the exception at this point.
The Whitecaps have been the best hitting team for most of the season. It’s staying that way now — and the gap is getting bigger. Brewster leads the league with a .290 team batting average. Hyannis and Cotuit are tied for second at .262.
The .290 mark is almost unheard of in the Cape League. Last year’s top team average was Y-D’s .254. Going back further, the highest average in the last 10 seasons was Y-D’s .278 in 2007. And that team featured Buster Posey and Gordon Beckham.
Brewster’s average will most likely go down at some point, but the Whitecaps have made it this far, and they kept hitting last night.
On their way to a third straight win, they beat Chatham 7-2. They touched up Chatham starter Buck Farmer (Georgia Tech) for five runs and finished the day with 12 hits.
The usual suspects did much of the damage. On various days this summer, three different Whitecaps have held the league lead in batting average: Taylor Davis (Morehead State), Ryan Jones (Michigan State) and Andrew Toles (Tennessee). Davis has it now after going 2-for-3 last night. He’s hitting .371.
Jones took an 0-for-3 last night but he’s still fourth in the league. Toles went 2-for-5 last night and ranks fifth at .346.
The other thing Brewster has going for it is that pretty much everybody else can chip in as well. Seven of the nine players in the lineup last night have a batting average above .300.
With that kind of team, different people are going to step up every night. Last night, Trace Tam Sing (Washington State) hit a home run while Jason Monda (Washington State) went 2-for-4 with a triple.
Of course, Brewster pitchers are happy about all of this. Armed with a lead, Max Garner (Baylor) allowed one earned run in six innings for the win.
The victory keeps Brewster four points back of first-place Harwich.
Elsewhere
What to Watch
Game: Brewster will try to stay hot when it visits West-leading Hyannis at 7 p.m.
Player: You could watch any Brewster hitter at this point, but I’d keep an eye on Taylor Davis tonight. He’s gone hitless just once in his last eight games and leads the league in hitting.