There are a few things that I could write up for you this week. I could talk about my lovely fourth of July, putting together a grill, devouring steak and drinking beers. I could also talk about the NBA free agency happenings or the MLB All-Star break, but I already beat that horse. When I say that, I mean figuratively, not literally …

Anyways, this week we are going to dive deep into the Galion Graders season. I’m talking statistics. The average person may not be interested in statistics, but I am, so here I go.

It has been a streaky season for the local squad …winning streaks here, losing streaks there. But, did you know that the Graders have already matched their win total from the 2016 campaign? Last year — their second season in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League — Galion was an abysmal 12-30. Are you also aware that in the Graders’ first year, they went 16-22? Now, in their third year, Galion is 12-13 (as of Monday July 10 at 10:30 am) with 16 games remaining in the regular season. They are third in the Central Division behind the Lima Locos (19-6) and the Grand Lake Mariners (13-12). Oh, and by the way, the Locos have the best overall record in the GLSCL.

Top 15 in the league, offense

Here is a list of Graders in the Top 15 in offensive categories thus far…

Batting average: Matt Noel- .356; Runs scored: Austin Hathaway- 20; Hits: Noel- 31; 2B: Giavedoni- 10; 3B: Hathaway- 2 and Brandt Nowaskie, Grant Fuller, Josh Kent and Jake Hoover- 1; HR: Kent and Hathaway- 3; RBI: Hathaway- 20; Stolen Bases: Kent- 7, Fuller- 6, Hathaway- 5 and Brady Hettinger, Zach Mottice and Hoover- 3.

Top 15 in the league, pitching

Galion representatives in the Top 15 in pitching stats thus far…

Earned Run Average: Brody Basilone- 2.03; Wins: Brock Balderson, Christian Specht and Basilone- 3; Strike outs: Basilone- 3o and Balderson- 24.

Please note: All of the above players in the top 15 of their respective categories have met that mark by league qualifications that can be found at the GLSCL website.

As for the individual statistics for the team, I rounded those up as well for your viewing pleasure. Another note: The list below is in no particular order.

Galion Graders offense

Here’s a look at what the offense for the Graders has been doing this season. As a team, Galion has 883 at-bats and 237 hits (.268 avg.) in 25 total games. The Graders have scored 152 runs, belted 49 doubles and six triples as a team. In total, they have hit 10 home runs and recorded 128 RBI and swiped 36 bases. Galion batters have also struck out a total of 186 times and walked 117. In the field, the defense has committed 40 errors. All of those stats are also as of Monday July 10 at 10:30 am.

Kent: 21 H, 90 AB, .233 AVG, 18 R, 5-2B, 3B, 3-HR, 13 RBI, 7 SB; Fuller: 5 H, 31 AB, .161 AVG, 5 R, 3B, 6 RBI, 6 SB; Sam Stewart: 5 H, 21 AB, .238 AVG, 5 R, 2B, HR, RBI; Nowaskie: 19 H, 63 AB, .302 AVG, 12 R, 5-2B, 3B, HR, 13 RBI, 3 SB; Dalton Henderson: 2 H, 12 AB, .167 AVG, R, 2B, RBI; Matthew Freeman: 5 H, 38 AB, .132 AVG, 5 R, 4 RBI; Jarett Smetana: 20 H, 63 AB, .317 AVG, 10 R, 4-2B, 6 RBI, SB; Noel: 31 H, 87 AB, .356 AVG, 8 R, 5-2B, 12 RBI, SB; Hoover: 15 H, 59 AB, .254 AVG, 7 R, 2-2B, 3B, 6 RBI, 3 SB; Hathaway: 30 H, 92 AB, .326 AVG, 20 R, 6-2B, 2-3B, 3-HR, 20 RBI, 5 SB; Hettinger: 19 H, 64 AB, .297 AVG, 14 R, 2-2B, 7 RBI, 3 SB; Mottice: 9 H, 30 AB, .300 AVG, 5 R, 3-2B, 9 RBI, 3 SB; Giavedoni: 25 H, 100 AB, .250 AVG, 14 R, 10-2B, HR, 13 RBI, 2 SB; Joe Crank: 20 H, 79 AB, .253 AVG, 19 R, 2B, 8 RBI, SB; Parke Phillips: 11 H, 54 AB, .204 AVG, 9 R, 4-2B, HR, 9 RBI, SB.

Galion Graders pitching staff

The pitching staff for the Graders has been a bit of a wildcard. But, without further ado, here’s the pitching stats that I know that you just can’t wait to read…again, no particular order.

Stewart: 6 G, 4.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R (3E), BB, 2 K, 0-1, 6.23 ERA; Balderson: 12 G, 18.2 IP, 18 H, 3 R (2E), 5 BB, 24 K, 3-0, SV, 0.96 ERA; Osvaldo Duran: 5 G, 23.1 IP, 31 H, 24 R (19E), 8 BB, 20 K, 0-2, 7.33 ERA; Hyatt Shenefield: 5 G, 23 IP, 25 H, 20 R (14E), 8 BB, 9 K, 0-3, 5.48 ERA; Dustin Baird: 6 G, 8.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R (4E), 3 BB, 5 K, 4.15 ERA; Clay Davies: 7 G, 11 IP, 24 H, 16 R (13E), 4 BB, 7 K, SV, 10.64 ERA; Smetana: 2 G, 5 IP, 6 H, 8 R (7E), 6 BB, 4 K, 12.60 ERA; Specht: 10 G, 27.2 IP, 32 H, 17 R (16E), 7 BB, 16 K, 3-0, 5.21 ERA; Basilone: 6 G, 40 IP, 37 H, 13 R (9E), 10 BB, 30 K, 3-0, 2.03 ERA; Kyle Kovach: 1 G, 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1E), BB, 3 K, 0-1, 1.50 ERA; Jordan Peck: 8 G, 13.2 IP, 14 H, 12 R (9E), 12 BB, 4 K, 1-1, 5.93 ERA; Richard Krieger: 3 G, 12.1 IP, 20 H, 15 R (14E), 9 BB, 9 K, 0-2, 10.22 ERA; Justin Longbrake: 5 G, 25 IP, 38 H, 25 R (22E), 8 BB, 16 K, 1-2, 7.92 ERA.

Galion versus the league; as of now and looking forward…

Lima Locos: 0-4 with four games remaining; Grand Lake Mariners: 1-3 with four games remaining; Licking County Settlers: 4-2 with two games remaining; Lorain County Ironmen: 3-1 with four games remaining; Richmond Jazz: 0-2; Southern Ohio Copperheads: 1-0; Hamilton Joes: 2-0; Cincinnati Steam: 1-1. Xenia Scouts: 0-0 with two games remaining (final series of the regular season). Galion will be on the road for 10 of their remaining 16 games, so if you haven’t been to Heddleson Field in Heise Park, get there! Also, visit the concession stand and ask for the @GalionSportsDog or the Clinger Dog…Greg and Angie Makeever will know what you’re talking about!