DCR – CONCORD RADSTAGS (4-5) AT STARLIGHT LADY KILLERS (4-5)
WHAT TO KNOW
These two teams can be considered the darlings of the Commonwealth League, at least through Commissioner Nate Howard’s eyes. Concord represents his hometown team since Howard lived in pre-war Sanctuary Hills, just across the Concord River from downtown Concord. Starlight Drive-In is one of his favorite settlements and a place run by one of his favorite people in the Commonwealth, Irish Cait. Howard often refers to Valentine Detective Agency Field as the “Little Monster,” apparently a reference to the similar height of the left field walls of Starlight’s stadium and the Great Green Jewel.
Before the season began, the Lady Killers were expected to finish towards the bottom of the Institute League, predicted by P.A.M. to finish 26-34, which would land them thee games ahead of Lexington. Concord, at the same time, is predicted to finish third with a possibility to make the playoffs. Right now, both teams are chasing the teams they are expected to finish behind: current first-place Abernathy at 7-2 and current second-place Sunshine Tidings at 5-4. This series, thus is important for both teams to stay in the early playoff race.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM CONCORD
This team is built on power. With a league- and CBO-leading 17 home runs, the Radstags are going to manufacture their runs through power ball. Six different players have at least two home runs in the first nine games of the season. Leadoff hitter Ricky Ticky Laughy currently leads the Institute League with five, and first baseman Jason Robinson has three. Despite all those home runs, the Radstags have only scored 53 runs (tied for 4th in the IL), so they need homers to compete.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM STARLIGHT
The Lady Killers have produced just as many runs as the Radstags, but their way of scoring is much different. As opposed to the power of Concord, the Killers score their runs through a multitude of hits. Currently they are second in the IL in team batting average (.327) while fifth in home runs (7). Second hitter Wild Cannon (.295) is the only position starter batting below .300, meaning that Starlight will get lots of hits in the series. Neither team’s pitching has been a strength.
KEY PLAYERS IN THE SERIES
CON: Healing Erb—With a league-leading .462 batting average, Dan Erb has been a beast at the plate. While the Radstags are mostly a lefty squad, which will not help them much to improve their home run numbers at Valentine Detective Agency Field and its short left porch, Erb has the ability to hit anywhere in the field. That may help him hit home runs at Starlight or produce doubles by spraying pitches off the screen wall.
STAR: Back of the Lineup – The 6-8 hitters in the Killers’ line up has been better than many teams’ middle when it comes to batting. Hubris McBride (.353/3/11) may be the best player for Starlight, followed by Hope Scrapper (.353/1/6) and Justin People (.344/0/5).
PREDICTION: Concord will love that left field screen. Radtstags leave Starlight Drive-In happy with a 2-1 series advantage.