Aug 02, 2007 - 04:03:43 CDT
Could it be ZachWentz's 47 RBIs or DustinWenzel's .416 average and 52 runs scored? Or maybe Justin Connell's .426 average, Wentz's 6-0 record with 5 saves or Zach Klabo's 6-1 mark?No sir, none of the above.
Bismarck Governors coach Mike Skytland points to a more mundane factor in his team's dash to the top of the Western Division with a 15-5 record.
"It was due to our consistency more than anything else," Skytland said, looking back over his shoulder at the just-completed Western Division regular season race. "It was our consistency that brought us to this point. ... It wasn't that we ran away from everyone. We played a lot of close games, and we competed in every conference doubleheader we had. We didn't get swept."
The Governors did, indeed, grind it out. Their longest winning streak en route to a 32-13 regular season mark was six games. They never lost more than two straight, and that happened only once.
That bodes well for the Western Division tournament, which begins today in Devils Lake. Skytland said tournaments consist mostly of grind-it-out baseball.
"Our pitching and defense have probably been the best toward the end of the year that it's been at any time," he said. "And in tournament baseball, if you pitch and play defense. you feel you're going to have as good a shot as anybody. I like our chances there."
Bismarck topped the division with 15 victories to 12 apiece for No. 2 Minot, No. 3 Dickinson and No. 4 Williston.
Skytland said the final standings are no illusion. The top four teams are jam-packed.
"The top four teams are pretty close. ... We'll probably play Williston, which is No. 4, but with one more win they could have been second,"Skytland said. "Ithink anyone still has a shot."
Skytland emphasized that "anyone" includes fifth-seeded Devils Lake and No. 6 Mandan.
"When you look at baseball things are never clear-cut," he pointed out. "You look at Mandan's and Devils Lake's scores and they've had (divisional)games they've won or been right down to the wire. ... We were down to the last strike against Mandan a week ago."
Bismarck's consistent play is born of consistently good numbers. The Governors have outscored opponents 347 (7.7 runs per game)to 227(5.0). The Govs have outhit their foes .346 to .284 and Bismarck pitchers boast a 3.32 ERA.
Defensively, Bismarck has committed 53 errors for a .944 fielding percentage. The Govs have surrendered 84 unearned runs. Opposing teams have been guilty of 89 errors and given away 128 tainted runs.
"We've been hitting the ball pretty well lately, but in tournaments you never know," Skytland said. "If we play defense and pitch well, we'll be happy. We'll just have to take what we get with the bats."
Wentz, who will pitch for the Governors in their first tournament game on Friday, has been the big gun on the mound staff with a 2.24 ERA. Matt Loomis stands 6-3 with a 4.41 ERA. Jeremy Campbell (5-1, 1.40), Klabo(2.36) and Jon Hausauer (4-3, 3.69) have also played prominent roles on the mound. Campbell is the only lefty in the crowd.
Skytland said the Bismarck attack is built around six day-in, day-out players. "We've had a nucleus all year and some guys who move in and out,"Skytland said.
"CodyErhardt (.328, 0 HR, 29 RBIs, 44 runs), Jon Hausauer (.300, 0 HR, 11 RBIs, 31 R), Wenzel(6 HR, 38 RBIs), Wentz (.399, 6 HR, 38 R),Torey Bohan (.389, 1 HR, 37 RBIs)and Connell (31 RBIs, 27 R) have been consistent in those first six spots and then we have some flexibility after that. ... We have a lot of flexible parts who can fit into that nucleus," Skytland added.
Bohan catches, Wenzel plays second base and right field, Hausauer is a third baseman, Wentz is primarily a shortstop and Erhardt is a three-year starter in center field.
The mix-and-match players include outfielder Nathan Schlosser (.263 in 76 at-bats), outfielder DarronOlson (.426 in 47 at-bats), outfielder Campbell (.325 in 80 at-bats), catcher-outfielder Tyler Johnson (.323 in 93 at-bats), infielder Loomis (.371 in 89 at-bats) and infielder Tom Seifert (.226 in 62 at-bats).
Even though the omens augur well for Bismarck, Skytland treads lightly into the postseason. His main concern is surviving the trip to Devils Lake in order to fight next week at the state tourney in Fargo.
"The way the year has goneI honestly don't care who we play. ... We just have to play well," he said. "And I would guess almost every team in the West would say the same thing."
CLASSALEGIONBASEBALL
WESTERNDIVISION
Region Overall
W L W L
Bismarck 15 5 32 13
Minot 12 7 41 13
Dickinson 12 8 33 21
Williston 12 8 31 21
Devils Lake 5 14 28 23
Mandan 3 17 19 34
Saturday: Bismarck 6-3, Fargo 5-5. Wahpeton 2-2, Mandan 1-11. Minot 13-5, Grand Forks 8-3
Sunday: Bismarck 6-3, Williston 4-7. Fargo 11, Mandan 5. West Fargo 5-0, Devils Lake 3-4. Minot at Miles City (Mont.) canceled
Monday: Dickinson 6, Devils Lake 2
WesternDivision Tournament
At Devils Lake
Thursday'sFirst Round
Game 1: Dickinson vs. Mandan, 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: Williston vs. Devils Lake, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 3: Minot vs. winner game 1, 3:30 p.m.
Game 4: Bismarck vs. winner game 2, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Game 5: Loser game 1 vs. loser game 4, 9:30 a.m.
Game 6: Loser game 2 vs. loser game 3, 12:30 p.m.
Championship:Winner game 3 vs. winner game 4, 3:30 p.m.
Third place: Winner game 5 vs. winner game 6, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday
Challenge game, if necessary, 1 p.m.
3 NOTE:The top four teams advance to the state tournament, which begins Aug. 8 in Fargo.3 NOTE:The top four teams advance to the state tournament, which begins Aug. 8 in Fargo.
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