Chatham-Kent Barnstormers need second-half turnaround

The Chatham-Kent Barnstormers have to make up a lot of ground in the second half.

Article content The Chatham-Kent Barnstormers have to make up a lot of ground in the second half. A seven-game skid before the all-star break dropped them into a last-place tie in the Canadian Baseball League. “We’re kind of frustrated, but everyone’s still enjoying themselves and being positive,” all-star first baseman and outfielder Greyson Barrett said.

“We’re still hustling out there and trying hard. It’s not a lack of effort. “Keep on doing it and hopefully in the second half things will get rolling for us on both sides of the ball and have a chance to make it in.”

The Barnstormers were eight games out of the final playoff position with only 23 left to play at press time. Eight of nine teams made the playoffs in recent years. Now, only the top five advance.

All-star outfielder Austin Gurney said players aren’t looking at the standings. “We show up every day, go through our processes as a team and work on what we need to work on to be successful the next night,” he said. “That’s our mindset going forward right now.”

After a 15-3 home loss to the Kitchener Panthers July 10, the Barnstormers had a week-long break. They were scheduled to play Friday in London and Saturday in Welland. “Get some rest and get ready for the second half,” manager and president Dom Dinelle said.

“Forget about the first half. It’s the second half now that counts. “I think they’re ready.

The atmosphere is good. It’s really positive. The guys are ready to play.”

The league is divided into haves and have-nots going into the second half. Hamilton and Guelph are tied for the final playoff spot, five games ahead of sixth-place Kitchener. Chatham-Kent and Toronto are in the cellar, 10 games out of first place.

“It’s not a big secret or hush-hush,” Barrett said. “We know where we’re at right now. We need to be better and get better.”

The Barnstormers’ offensive numbers look good. They’re slashing .292/.371/.466 as a team.

However, the league as a whole was slashing .298/.380/.465 before Thursday’s games. The Barnstormers’ pitching remains a sore spot with a staff ERA of 7.66. The starters have a collective ERA of 6.91 and the relievers are worse at 8.38.

The defence ranks second-last in fielding percentage (.958) and errors (39). SHINING STARS: The all-star game was a big hit with the players.

The Barnstormers originally had seven on the South roster for last Sunday’s showcase at Fergie Jenkins Field, then infielder Julien Monks and reliever Ryoya Oe boosted the total to nine as late replacements. “It was fun to be a player and to play in that all-star game,” Gurney said. “It was fun to reward our great fans with an event like this and to be able to have it here in Chatham.”

Barrett and Yushin Ohta also took part in the home run derby last Saturday after the skills competition. “I had so much fun,” Barrett said. “It was just so exciting to play in front of the fans.

They were loud and it was super cool to do it at home. I loved it.” The all-star game was also memorable for Barrett because his younger brother, Hudson, was drafted during the game.

The Colorado Rockies took the senior pitcher from Oklahoma State in the eighth round, 224th overall. “Pretty exciting,” he said. “I’m pretty happy for him.

I knew it was coming. I just didn’t know (when). . . . It was pretty cool to get that news.”

GETTING THE CALL: Barrett got the good news from Evan Morrison, who was waiting to hear his own name called. The Texas Rangers finally picked the Barnstormers shortstop in the 10th round, 297th overall. The Rangers kept close tabs on Morrison during his senior season at Grand Valley State University.

After an impressive junior year, they wanted to see him keep improving. They sent multiple scouts to multiple games this season. “I’m really excited for Ev,” Grand Valley State head coach Jordan Keur said.

“I think he’s going to have a heck of a career. I’m excited to see how it continues to evolve.” Morrison’s NCAA Division II success was the biggest reason for his selection, but Keur said his production in Canada may have helped, too.

“I don’t know how much stock they put into it,” he said. “That I can’t speak to, but I can say it definitely didn’t hurt for him to go, ‘Oh, yeah, I was also the (Intercounty Baseball League) rookie of the year.’

That’s pretty cool to have that attached to him.”