Sticking Points 2035.12: Rockville Takes Biggest Lead Yet

[aaronweiner]

The Rockville Pikemen started the season 6-13, and manager Chet Rouse was one of the people first discussed as potentially being on the hot seat. Well, you can take him right off of that hot seat. Since the tough start, the Pikemen have gone an astonishing 59-26 (.692), a 112-win pace, and have opened up a five and a half game lead in the JL Atlantic, easily their largest of the season.

"I was never really worried," said Rouse. "This ballclub is so talented and so amazing that I never worried for a second."

The Pikemen supported the winning effort by bringing in Dan Cannon this year and pushing hard on the idea that they might be the best team in the BBA. Cannon has been a big success with Rockville, and many other players are living up to their hype, including Andre Georges, who currently leads the league in ERA.

"The productivity of our pitching staff really hasn't been matched over the last two months," said pitching coach Arturo Trujillo. "Andre's the leader in the clubhouse and we really bonded as a staff early."

The offense has been better, too, as the Pikemen are currently first in the league in batting average with a .291 average after struggling earlier this year, and are now first in on-base percentage, too. For a team that's dependent on base hits the way the Pikemen are, this is a big deal. Rockville rates just seventh in the league in slugging percentage on the strength of their first place in doubles, but are last in home runs.

"We play in a park where it's really difficult to hit one out," said Yi-ke Zang, whose average is up to a more normal .317 mark, at least for him. "Wait, for me, that's every park."

The Pikemen have also been on the run without Chip Puckett, who had been leading the JL in steals before his injury, and a lot of players are still off their career averages. Two players who aren't, simply because they can't be: Manuel Marino and Lorenzo Palacios, who are having outstanding rookie seasons.

"We're very lucky to have so much talent," said manager Rouse. "We have so many players who are doing such a great job."