In the spring, Chase DeLauter hit six home runs in 26 games with James Madison.
This summer, DeLauter has matched that number in just 13 games.
The Orleans slugger has emerged as the Cape’s most dangerous hitter. He smashed his league-best sixth home run of the season in Thursday’s 11-6 win over Hyannis. It was part of a 3-for-4 night, his second straight such performance.
In addition to the home run lead, DeLauter now ranks fourth in the league in batting average with a .362 mark, and fourth in RBI. He also leads the league in slugging percentage.
The success is not exactly out of the ordinary for DeLauter. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has done nothing but hit at James Madison. At the time the 2020 season was cut short, DeLauter – as a true freshman – was hitting .382. He started his career on a nine-game hitting streak. In his redshirt freshman year this past spring, DeLauter slashed .386/.500/.723, leading the league in batting average and on base percentage and ranking second in slugging percentage. He ended the season on a 16-game hit streak.
DeLauter also does some pitching for the Dukes, and has made two appearances for Orleans. But his bat has been the headliner so far this summer.
He started the season with two hits on opening night. After one brief, quiet stretch, he really got going with a 5-for-5 night on July 2. He’s delivered fourt multi-hit games in his last six.
DeLauter had plenty of help in Thursday’s win. Peyton Chatagnier (Ole Miss), who’s on a pretty good home run pace in his own right, hit his third in six games. Benjamin Blackwell added two hits and an RBI. Seven different Firebirds drove in a run.
Hyannis got a home run from Marcos Pujols Martinez, but nothing else as its struggles continued.
Harwich 5, Y-D 3
In the only other game of a light slate, took an early lead and held off a push by the Red Sox. Hal Hughes (Rice) homered for the Mariners, while Brock Wilken (Wake Forest) cand Carter Putz (Notre Dame) each had two hits and an RBI. Trey Dombroski (Monmouth) allowed his first runs of the season but he had perhaps his best performance all the same, bumping up from two short stints to seven strong innings. He allowed two earned runs and struck out nine. He’s now tied for the league lead in strikeouts with 22. Alex Rao (Notre Dame) pitched two scoreless innings to close out the win.
WHAT TO WATCH
Have a feeling Tropical Storm Elsa will wipe out Friday’s schedule, but if not, it should be a good one at Stony Brook Field where Brewster hosts Orleans. Both teams are 7-5-2.
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