Offensive: ZooKeepers lead the league in multiple statistical categories

ASHEBORO — Constructing the proper lineup for a summer collegiate baseball team is a difficult chore. The players come from colleges all across the country and it takes a while for a coaching staff to identify the strengths of each player.

The Asheboro ZooKeepers’ coaching staff, led by manager Jamey May, certainly figured out what their players can do.

The ZooKeepers may have the most complete offensive lineup in the Coastal Plain League. Looking at the league rankings in the various categories, it would be hard to argue that point.

Entering Sunday’s games, Asheboro was first in the CPL in runs scored (362), second in hits (406), second in doubles (84), first in triples (41), second in walks (273) and first in hit batters (73).

Still not convinced? The ZooKeepers are sixth in stolen bases (115), second in total bases (635), second in batting average (.298), second in OBP (.432), third in 

slugging (.472) and second in OPS (.909).

That’s being offensive.

“It’s not something you take for granted in baseball,” Asheboro’s Brady McGuire said. “It’s definitely a rare feat in baseball to have an offense that is so dynamic like we have this year. We trust all the players one through 15 in this offense.”

McGuire has been one of many sparkplugs all season. He is currently tops in the league in runs scored (52), third in plate appearances (178) tied for fifth in total hits (44), tied for third with 13 doubles, tied for the league lead with three triples, is in the top 15 with 31 RBIs, has walked the sixth most times in the CPL (33), was fifth in stolen bases (26) and seventh in total bases (72) while making the top 20 in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

“Brady McGuire doesn’t look the part,” May said of his 6-foot-0, 180-pounder from Seton Hill. “But he can flat-out play and he knows the game. He puts pressure on the defense in a lot of different ways.”

McGuire isn’t the only player having a stellar summer offensively. Daniel Stephens, from UNC-Pembroke, is hitting .317 while third in the league in runs scored (42), 15th in hits (38), ninth in stolen bases with 21 and top 15 in home runs (6) and top 10 with 33 RBIs.

Reggie Sharpe is sixth in the league in hitting with a robust .366 average with 33 runs scored and 20 RBIs. 

Stephens, Sharpe and McGuire are normally the top three in the lineup.

May said it’s important his top three hitters set the table for the middle of the lineup, which could include Chazz Grossington, a player who is enjoying an incredible second half, Thomas Cano-Piszel, Wilmis Castro, A.J. Malzone and others.

Grossington is tied for first in the CPL with three triples, tied for ninth with 10 doubles, is 11th in runs (36) and 14th in total bases (61).

Cano-Piszal is hitting .351 with four home runs in 17 games, while Castro is hitting .296 in 16 games and Malzone has ripped three home runs in just 28 official at-bats.

“From seven-to-nine, I like speed,” May said. “You got guys like Cameron Austin, Drue Saenz and Tyler Peller, guys who can thump it and restart the lineup.”

Austin is hitting .336 (15th in the league), tied for ninth in total bases (67), sixth in RBIs (34), eighth in total hits (43) and tied for fifth with 10 doubles.

Peller is hitting .343.

The ZooKeepers have scored at least 10 runs in a game 14 times this season, including three straight before losing Sunday’s game to Forest City 5-4 in 10 innings. Asheboro entered Monday atop the West Division by 1 game over Macon, which was riding a 10-game winning streak into Sunday’s action.

“McCrary is a big park for high school and a small park for college,” May said. “I’m not used to having guys who can run it out of the park. It’s a hitter-friendly park, which makes it a double-edged sword. Good for the hitters and bad for the pitchers. Anybody in our lineup can run it out of the yard.”

As the ZooKeepers wind down the regular season, May said his starting lineup will consist of the hottest hitters.

“I don’t necessarily look like this is a developmental league,” May said. “If they don’t like it, they go home. The Northwoods is a developmental league.  In the CPL, you are playing to win. I don’t have to get guys in. There are a couple of guys who have been here all year who have 70 at-bats. Then we have guys who have had 120 at-bats. This is crunch time and we got to win with our best lineup every night. You ride the hot hand.”

And as the final games come into view, May said the strategy won’t change.

“The message is that nothing will change,” he said. “We are a good team. We got to this point because of what we’re doing. Don’t change anything because we’re close to the playoffs. That’s how the guys get tight. We’re going to stay the course and be the same team we have been.”

That’s been good enough so far. 

The regular season ends Saturday and the CPL playoffs begin Sunday. Asheboro has three regular season home games left: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, with fireworks after Saturday’s game.