NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 14th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team kicks off a busy week on Monday afternoon, hosting the Newport News Apprentice School in non-conference action at 3:00 pm. The Captains (21-9) will take on the Builders (16-18) with live stats available at CNUsports.com/live.
The 3:00 pm first pitch will kick off a week that includes seven games, including two against the Apprentice School. The Captains will also travel to Salisbury and Penn State Harrisburg for three mid-week conference games, before wrapping up the home slate against Wesley College on Saturday.
Christopher Newport is looking to right the ship after a six game stretch in which they have gone just 2-4. The offense has not faltered, continuing to rack up runs as they have all season, averaging .317 as a team and scoring over 8.7 runs per game. Seven regulars are hitting over .300 while the balanced attack features six different players with at least 20 RBI this season.
Senior
Connor Henderson has had the hot bat of late, blasting four home runs in his last two games. He ranks second on the team in RBI and runs scored with 33 and 31, respectively. Junior
Keith Roberts has also caught fire in the second half of the season, raising his batting average 67 points over his current 12-game hitting streak. Roberts is hitting .365, just behind
Tommy Vitaletti as the team's leading hitter with a .381 average. Vitaletti has blasted eight home runs and leads the team in RBI (34), runs scored (38), stolen bases (17) and total bases (88).
On the mound, junior
Michael Thomas has been sensational in three starts this season. He has allowed just three earned runs in 19.0 innings since taking over a mid-week starter's role, striking out 17. He is coming off a 6-inning, 1-hit effort last Monday against the N.C. Wesleyan Battling Bishops. Rookie
Austin Slough (4-1, 2.57 ERA) was slated to start on Saturday against Penn State Harrisburg, and comes in as a top arm in the rotation for CNU as well.
In the bullpen,
Caleb Myers (3-1, 3.20 ERA) has led the team for the second consecutive season in appearances. Sophomore
Craig Johnson (2-1, 3.57 ERA) has been dominant since his conversion to the bullpen. In seven relief appearances, Johnson has allowed just two runs over 20.0 IP, striking out 23 batters.
Newport News Apprentice comes into Monday's tilt with a 16-18 overall record, but have won six of their last seven games. Mike Labrado leads the offense with nine extra-base hits and 23 RBI, while hitting .333. Mike Brumfield leads the team in RBI with 24, while adding a team-high 15 walks this season. On the mound, Brumfield has started seven games and owns a 2-0 record with a 3.80 ERA over 47.1 innings of work. Taylor Gomer (2-1, 2.08 ERA) is the ace of the staff, striking out 54 in 56.1 innings of work.
Following Monday's action, the Captains will hit the road to face nationally-ranked Salisbury in a crucial CAC matchup on Wednesday, April 13.
